- Two car wash companies in Runcorn found to be unsafe and ordered to stop work
- Company hired to carry out repairs issued false certificates declaring they were safe
- Sites continuing operating despite electrocution risks to workers and members of the public
A company has been fined after it falsely supplied electrical safety certificates to two car wash businesses in Runcorn, despite them both being declared unsafe.
Inspectors from Britain’s workplace regulator – alongside colleagues from Cheshire Police, Trading Standards and the immigration authorities – carried out an investigation into the activities of Super Hand Car Wash on Halton Road and Top Star Hand Car Wash on Bridge Street.
Both premises were found to have electrical systems that were dangerous. This resulted in Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors taking enforcement action against both businesses – forcing them to immediately stop work. The car wash owners were advised to use a National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) registered electrical contractor or similar, to ensure that electrics were made safe to ensure the safety of the public and the people working on site.
Epco Energy Solutions Limited, who were at the time, members of the NICEIC were engaged to carry out the work and certified the installations as being safe to use.
However, an examination of the certificates by one of HSE’s specialist electrical inspectors found that details in them did not match the installations he found on site. A subsequent visit to both car washes found that the installations were still dangerous and presented a risk of serious injury or electrocution to those on site, including members of the public.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require all electrical installations to be maintained in a safe condition. This means that systems should only be worked on by someone who is a competent electrical contractor. The NICEIC is one of the certification bodies for electrical contractors in the UK. Membership of such a body indicates that the member has received appropriate training, and has been assessed to ensure that they are competent to carry out work on electrical systems. HSE guidance on electrical safety is available. Electrical safety – HSE
Epco Energy Solutions Limited had visited and provided electronically generated certificates using the NICEIC secure members only systems. Certificates provided to the car washes indicated that the electrical systems on site were safe to use when they were not. With support from the NICEIC it was found that the certificates had been generated using password protected software and electronically signed with sole Epco Director Mohammed Naeem’s signature.
Epco Energy Solutions Limited, of Unit B, 37 Worlsey Road, Eccles, Manchester, were found guilty after a trial at Warrington Magistrates Court on 2 September 2026, of breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 etc, 1974. The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £15,239 at the same court on 22 October 2026.
HSE inspector Rose Leese-Weller said:
“Due to having such a close relationship with water, car wash owners must ensure that their electrical installations are maintained in a safe condition.
“As well as being safe to use they must also be fit for purpose so as to prevent serious personal injury or electrocution to anyone in the vicinity.
“These car washes where dangerous and unsafe – to both those working there and to members of the public visiting the sites.
“Electrical installations at all workplaces must be maintained in a safe condition and are safe to use.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Sam Crockett and paralegal officer Hettie Burrows.
Further information:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
- More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
- Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
- Relevant guidance can be found here – Electrical safety – HSE.
- HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.