The minimum requirements for the safety of electrical installations in workplaces are described in the Royal Decree of 04/12/2012. "The intention is to bring old installations – older than 1983 – to a similar safety level as the General Regulations on Electrical Installations (AREI)", Patrick Jooken explains. "Up to that date, there was no prior inspection for commissioning, nor were periodic checks provided. The Royal Decree harmonizes the requirements for old and newer installations. In addition, minimum requirements have been established that older installations must meet.”
Risk assessment is teamwork
The employer is responsible for the risk assessment and must take the necessary protective measures. "Such a risk assessment goes a step further than the technical inspection. It focuses on the risks for employees who may come into contact with the electrical installation. Moreover, the risk assessment is a living document. With every expansion or modification of an installation and with changed or new interactions of users with the electrical installation, the risk assessment must in principle be revised or supplemented. It is therefore important to continuously analyse, take actions and thus continuously improve. The risk assessment must be reviewed at least every five years.”
In addition to the employer, various functions must work together to achieve a successful risk assessment:
- the internal prevention adviser as safety expert
- the electrical engineer or electrician with experience and knowledge
- the installation manager and any work manager for operational use and carrying out work
- the external service for prevention and protection as an expert to carry out risk analyses
- any installers or engineering firms for advice on practical solutions
Top 10 risks
Still, things often go wrong. In a sample of 100 risk analyses performed, these were the most common shortcomings:
- No BA4/BA5 authorization statement by the employer (79%)
- No plan of external influences (74%)
- Direct contact hazard (68%)
- Missing conformity certificate (63%)
- No earthing electrode position plan (62%)
- Lack of equipotential bonding (60%)
- Insufficient identification or signage of panel, nominal voltage and electrical hazard (58%)
- Openings in enclosures and shields (52%)
- No procedures, instructions or prior risk analyses of work (50%)
- No quarterly inspection of HV installation (47%)
Work to be done
"For many companies, there is still work to be done. Both in terms of the installation itself, where attention to technicality, contact risk or sealing often leaves much to be desired. But also the organisation regarding the use and interaction with the installation, the competence or not of the people working with the installation, and the associated electrical file deserve more attention.”
Source ; Prevent
