EN 50110 is the European standard which aims to align the safety levels associated with the operation of, work activity on, with, or near electrical installations. In many European countries, the national electrical work safety is based on the standard. For instance, in Finland, the national electrical work safety standard SFS 6002 is based on the EN 50110, enriched with national additions in line with the local electrical safety legislation.
The purpose of EN 50110 is similar to NFPA 70E developed in the United States or CSA Z462 developed in Canada: to protect the workers from electrical hazards.
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The standard EN 50110 is applicable to all operation of and work activity on, with, or near electrical installations.
These are electrical installations operating at voltage levels from and including extra-low voltage up to and including high voltage. This latter term includes those levels referred to as medium and extra-high voltage.
These electrical installations are designed for the generation, transmission, conversion, distribution, and use of electrical power. Some of these electrical installations are permanent and fixed, such as a distribution installation in a factory or office complex, others are temporary, such as on construction sites and others are mobile or capable of being moved either whilst energised or whilst not energised nor charged. Examples are electrically driven excavating machines in quarries or open-cast coal sites.
The European Standard EN 50110 sets out the requirements for the safe operation of and work activity on, with, or near these electrical installations. The requirements apply to all operational, working and maintenance procedures. They apply to all non-electrical work activities such as building work near to overhead lines or underground cables as well as electrical work activities when there is a risk of electrical danger.
The standard does not apply to ordinary persons when using installations and equipment, provided that the installations and equipment comply with relevant standards and are designed and installed for use by ordinary persons.
The EN 50110 standard has not been developed specifically to apply to the electrical installations listed below. However, if there are no other rules or procedures, the principles of the standard could be applied to them:
- on any aircraft and hovercraft moving under its own power, (these are subject to International Aviation laws which take precedence over national laws in these situations)
- on any sea going ship moving under its own power, or under the direction of the master, (these are subject to International Marine laws which take precedence over national laws in these situations)
- electronic telecommunications and information systems
- electronic instrumentation, control, and automation systems
- at coal or other mines
- on offshore installations subject to International Marine laws
- on vehicles
- on electric traction systems
- on experimental electrical research work.
For railway applications, EN 50153 (Railway applications – Rolling stock – Protective provisions relating to electrical hazards) can be applied.
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The EN 50110 Electrical Work Safety Training includes
- hazards of electricity
- examples of electrical accidents
- the important safety principles of EN 50110.
The standard EN 50110 sets out the requirements for the safe operation of and work activity on, with, or near these electrical installations.
The requirements apply to all operational, working and maintenance procedures.
Operational Procedures
Operating activities are designed to change the electrical state of an electrical installation. Such operating activities are:
- operations intended to modify the electrical state of an electrical installation, to use an equipment, connect, disconnect, start or stop an equipment
- disconnecting or reconnecting installations for working.
According to EN 50110, disconnecting before or reconnecting after dead working shall be carried out by skilled or instructed persons as prescribed in the standard.
Electrical Checks
The functional checks include measurements, testing the health and functionality of protective devices and general inspections according to other standards.
Only skilled or instructed persons, or ordinary persons under the immediate control or supervision of a skilled person shall carry out measurement.
Testing shall be carried out by skilled or instructed persons, or ordinary persons under the immediate control or supervision of a skilled person only. Ordinary persons can test residual current device (RCD) testing by pressing the test button.
Inspections shall be carried out by skilled persons with experience in the inspection of similar installations. Electrical installations shall be inspected at suitable intervals. The result of an inspection shall be recorded.
Working Procedures
The EN 50110 standard includes guidelines for procedures, work safety and responsibilities in electrical work.
Before starting any work, a suitable risk assessment shall be completed, and the necessary protective measures shall be applied. Only the nominated person in control of an electrical installation during work activities shall give authorisation.
The working methods are divided in three categories in the standard:
- dead working
- live working
- working in the vicinity of live parts
Dead Working
Before starting the work, the five essential safety rules shall be followed
- disconnect the circuit completely
- secure it against re-connection
- verify the absence of the operating voltage
- carry out earthing and short-circuiting and
- provide protection against adjacent live parts.
After the work has been completed and inspected, persons no longer required shall be notified that work is completed, no more work is permitted and they shall be withdrawn. All tools, equipment and devices used during the work shall be removed. Only then shall the procedure for re-energising be commenced.
Live Working
Live working shall only be carried out according to national requirements and practices. A specific training programme shall be set out to develop and maintain the capacity of skilled or instructed persons to perform live working. This programme shall comply with special requirements for live working and shall be based on theoretical and practical exercises.
Before work begins, explanations shall be given to the workers, on what the work consists of, what the safety aspects are, what the role of each of them is, and what the tools and equipment to be used are. The level of supervision shall correspond to the complexity of the work activity and/or the voltage level.
Before live working, if there is any doubt about the procedures to be used, preliminary trials shall be carried out before starting work. All aspects of safety, electrical or otherwise shall be studied to make suitable preparation for the work. For complex work, this preparation shall be made in writing and in advance.
Working in the Vicinity of Live Parts
Work activities in the vicinity of live parts with nominal voltages above 50 V (AC) or 120 V (DC) shall only be carried out, when safety measures ensure that live parts cannot be touched, or the live working zone cannot be reached. To control the electrical hazards in the vicinity of live parts, protection may be provided by either screens, barriers, enclosure or insulating covering.
Before commencement of work, the nominated person in control of a work activity shall instruct personnel, particularly those who are not familiar with working in the vicinity of live parts, on the maintenance of safety distances, on the safety measures that have been put into force and on the need for continual awareness of safety at all times.
The work done in the vicinity of live parts can be divided roughly in two categories:
- electrical work done by a skilled person, in the vicinity of live parts
- other work, such as construction or painting or transport work near live parts
Maintenance Procedures
Maintenance may consist of
- preventive maintenance which is carried out on a routine basis with the intention of preventing breakdown and keeping equipment in good condition
- corrective maintenance which is carried out to repair or replace a defective part.
From the risk assessment point of view, there are two types of maintenance work:
- work where the risk of electric shocks, short-circuit or arcing is present and therefore the appropriate working procedures shall be applied
- work where the design of equipment enables certain maintenance (for example replacement of fuses or light bulbs) to be undertaken safely without special working procedures.
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- Electrical Work Safety for Instructed Persons SFS 6002