By Sarah Donnelly · Published 1 November 2026 · 2 min read
A repair company has been fined after issuing false electrical safety certificates to two car wash businesses in Runcorn. The fraudulent documents declared the sites safe, allowing them to continue operating despite severe electrocution risks to both workers and the public.\n\n## Background\n\nThe Health and Safety Executive ordered the two Runcorn car washes to halt operations after inspectors found the electrical installations to be unsafe. The repair contractor had been hired to fix the dangerous faults but instead supplied fabricated safety documentation. This deception left live electrical hazards unresolved in a wet working environment.\n\n## Industry implications\n\nFraudulent certification undermines the entire compliance framework of the electrical contracting sector. For facilities managers and principal contractors, relying on unverified certificates can lead to corporate manslaughter charges if a fatality occurs. The case proves that HSE inspectors are actively verifying the authenticity of safety documentation during site visits.\n\n## What contractors should do now\n\nClients and principal contractors must independently verify the credentials of electrical subcontractors through recognized bodies. Site managers should cross-reference repair invoices with physical testing evidence. Any suspicion of falsified documents must be reported to the regulator immediately.\n\n## Expert view\n\nFalsifying safety critical documents is a deliberate criminal act rather than an administrative oversight. HSE pursues these cases aggressively because they place the public in direct danger. The prosecution serves as a stark warning that the regulator will trace fraudulent paperwork back to the issuing contractor and hold them fully accountable.\n\n## What happens next\n\nThe offending company faces significant financial penalties and severe reputational damage. Industry bodies are likely to review auditing processes for electrical testing to prevent rogue operators from issuing fake certificates. Dutyholders should expect stricter scrutiny of their maintenance records during future HSE inspections.
Sources
- HSE Media Centre — Health and Safety Executive
