Guideline on Managing Safety in the Use of Portable
Contents
1. SYNSS1 1591 y pue p s pue payadsul Ajjes pollsd SMW Juswuoumnus BuReJado lsou e ul p sn Buleq se p ss sse u q sey yeu Juswd nba uawd nba noA yuawuOs AUa Huyesedo y Ainu pi v l p sn Juauld nba je91199 9 adA 1 0 104 Uulnio2 Ul S E P ay 1 p M M L 9ed Aq psjs dwog 1 2 1 uolpedsui Jo JueWssesse YSU 40 Example 3 Equipment Periodic Inspection and Combined Inspection and Test Record Item of Equipment Description Make Model Serial No Date of Purchase Register No Register No Register No Register No Register No Construction Class Handheld Fixed Location Frequency of Periodic Inspection Frequency of Combined Inspection and Test Plug Inspection Cable Inspection Body Inspection Continuity Test Insulation Test Functional Test Comments OK to use Initials Note P Pass F Fail Appendix 4 Technical Standards for carrying out tests on Portable Electrical Equipment No Test Material product Reference document Power input and current measurement Household and similar electrical appliances Hand held motor operated electric tools Safety of transportable motor operated electric tools IEC 60335 1 2006 EN 60745 1 2006 EN 610292. The GS mark is a voluntary mark Products are evaluated accord ing to the Low Voltage Directive EMC Directive Machinery Directive or national standards The evaluation is based on the German Safety of Equipment Act GPSG It is a recognized mark for products such as office equipment household appliances and industrial equipment and is widely accepted throughout Europe The GS Mark signals to the buyer customer and consumer that the product as well as the user manual and production process has been tested by an authorized institution such as Berufs genossenschaft VDE and TUEV and is supported by regular sur veillance audits Because a representative sample of the product O G Appendix 5 has been evaluated tested and approved for safety there is a high acceptance of the GS Mark by EU consumers Nordic Certification Service NCS The Nordic reciprocal agreement for the mutual acceptance of test results betvveen signatory Nordic countries avoids the need for multiple tests to European Standards to obtain other Nordic national safety marks The D Mark FIMKO SEMKO and NEMKO marks form one test program Svviss Safety Mark By using the voluntary Svviss Safety Mark vvhich is in full conformi ty vvith the Ordinance for Electrical Lovv Voltage Products NEV the manufacturer who places a low voltage electrical product on the market indicates to the consumer that it complies with the legal regulations on electrical
3. and Canadian CSA safety standards such as UL 61010 1 and CSA 61010 1 The Canada U S UL Mark is optional UL encour ages those manufacturers with products certified for both coun tries to use this new combined Mark but they may continue using separate UL Marks for the United States and Canada CSA International mark If this mark appears with the indicator C and US or NRTL C it means that the product is certified for both the U S and Canadian markets to the applicable U S and Canadian standards The CB Scheme The International Electrotechnical Committee for Conformity Testing to Standards IECEE established the CB Scheme for Electrical Equipment It is an international system for acceptance of tests The CB Scheme or CB Agreement is a multilateral agreement among participant countries and certification organisa tions utilising a CB Test Report issued by one of these organisa tions The CB Scheme is very fast growing and it is one of the most beneficial solutions for trading in global markets The net work under the CB Scheme comprises today 58 product certifica tion organisations National Certification Bodies NCB and 140 testing laboratories CBTL in 43 countries throughout America Europe Asia Australia and Africa The CB Agreement can be applied for products for which IEC standards exist and are accept ed by the IECEE for use within the Scheme The products are tested to these IEC standards and mos
4. Class 2 not hand held e g fans table lamps Hand held double insulated equipment Class 2 e g some floor cleaners irons Earthed Class 1 equipment e g electric kettles some floor cleaners Cables plugs extension leads User Checks 110 V weekly 230 V mains daily every shift N e e e Periodic Visual nspection before issue after return 110 V monthly 230 V mains weekly before initial use then 6 monthly 6 months 1 year 6 months 1 year Combined nspection and Test before issue 110 V before first use on site then 3 monthly 230 V mains before first use on site then monthly 6 12 months 6 12 months juswd nba QOIAJOS O UOHONPOJ JUIBJ UO JO Ajajes fe ln l JOaye PINOD YOIUM 991A19S JO Aleda pueu puoo s pue p391A19S pasieday o JOU o JOU juswd nba ally aoueus ulew sn Alqul sse Jo eda4 10 YOM s pid saliojoe4 SU UOW 9 jqepod S qel1od 2 payeinsul 7777 Alan 98J014 4 sn Aq lqnop ssero SSELO juswd nba JWaWUOJIAUD yo dAL 6 Jamod 0 pue sjas p109 ys l 189199013 359 voyng ysng sa34 qu sin jenpisay juawd nba jo ssejJ Inspection and Test Intervals Example 3 38 Appendix
5. 1 2003 Leakage current measurement Insulation resistance measurement Household and similar electrical appliances Hand held motor operated electric tools Safety of transportable motor operated electric tools Hand held electric motor operated tools Safety of transportable motor operated electric tools EN 60745 1 2006 EN 61029 1 2003 EN 60745 1 2006 IEC 60335 1 2006 EN 61029 1 2003 Verification of the protection against access to live parts Household and similar electrical appliances IEC 60335 1 2006 Hand held motor operated electric tools Safety of transportable motor operated electric tools EN 60745 1 2006 EN 61029 1 2003 42 Verification of earth bonding Household and similar electrical appliances IEC 60335 1 2006 Hand held motor operated electric tools Safety of transportable motor operated electric tools EN 61029 1 2003 EN 60745 1 2006 Appendix 5 Safety Marks Identifiers associated with Portable Electrical Equipment 6 D US LISTED UL North American Product Safety Certification Underwriters Laboratories UL is an independent product safety testing and certification organization The UL Mark on a product means that it has been tested by UL and determined to meet UL s requirements Products are also periodically checked at the manu facturers facility The Mark indicates compliance with U S UL
6. 3 Examples of Inspection and Test Record Forms Example 1 Register of Electrical Equipment for Inspection and Test 2777 Frequency of Serial Equipment Description Location Combined Number az z Periodic Inspection Inspection and Test 39 Record on t Risk Assessment and Inspecti ipmen Electrical Equi 2 x ix endi ppe A Example 2 p oeld i 10 uosiad juajadwioo e Aq pue Jo USYe Jsnw Juawd nba 10 ps eweg 9 0N SOOUEISANS BAISOOD Jaqunu pue p nb UORE QIA 3s uono dsul ssed uollpuoo 8 211591 ayes Ul ule ulew uogoadsul SNISION p yo dsul u q sey juatudinba i u n ds l s poNad SIPOLaA ewep jesiueysay juawd nba jo uonipuo 1 syinsa4 4S9 yu wuo au S10 98 Ys y H n dsul JIPpON d 150 UON yu uluoslAu 3jl soH uolje907 Juawd nba S4N990 JUSPIOU E9199 9 Ue JO UOHE OV Sn Juawd nba l e si 19y 1 pinous p10991 n dsul pue JUBLUSSESSe YSU SIUL Bulyesado ayes e Ul q snul pue 5 lp d Aew Juswuolmus lsou uou e ul pasn Bulag se passasse u q sey zey Juswd nbg
7. Electrical installations and equipment have to be selected taking account of the ambient conditions like humidity dust mechanical or chemical strain The electrical supply for portable electrical equipment is only allowed from suit able points of delivery i e assemblies for construction sites standby electric generator and transformers with separated windings For small construction sites portable protection devices are also permitted These are special RCDs with additional functions e Voltage control on the protective conductor e Monitoring of the protective conductor in regard to breakage e Monitoring the continuity of the protective conductor if external voltage is applied These protection devices are connected between the socket outlet and portable electrical equipment Portable electrical equipment Hand operated power tools must conform to protection category IP 2X at least Under special operating conditions e g wet core drilling or wet grinding addi tional safety measures like safety extra low voltage or protection separation are required Luminous sources have to conform to protection category IP 23 at least floor lights and hand lamps protection category IP 55 or higher Hand lamps need to conform to protection class II or Ill and tangible parts must consist of insulating material Cable of the HO7RN F type is in general required for electrical equipment However where maximum cable length is 4m cable type HO
8. Work 2004 BetrSichV e Safety on Construction Sites HSE UK e Memorandum of Guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 HSE UK e Code of Practice for the In service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment 2007 IEE UK e IEV 60050 826 International Electrotechnical Vocabulary Part 826 Electrical installations 48 ISSA Section for Electricity c o Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Gustav Heinemann Ufer 130 50968 K ln Germany Tel 49 0 221 3778 6007 Fax 49 0 221 3778 196007 E Mail electricity bgete de www issa int prevention electricity ISBN 978 3 937824 02 4
9. a rated current up to 32 A intended for use by ordinary persons NOTE 3 In Belgium every electrical installation under the supervision of ordinary persons must be protected by a RCD with a rated operating residual current not exceeding 300 mA for circuits supplying bathrooms washing machines dish washers etc An additional protection by means of a RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA is mandatory the above mentioned is valid for electrical installations of which the earthing resistance is lower than 30 O in case of earthing resistance higher than 30 O and lower than 100 O additional RCDs with a rated operating residual current not exceeding 100 mA should be provided An earthing resistance higher than 100 O is not permitted NOTE 4 In Norway all commercial and industrial companies are covered by reg ulations requiring procedures for qualifications and training of employees Except for areas open for the public socket outlets in such locations are normally not considered to be for general use of ordinary people Socket outlets in dwellings and BA2 locations are intended for general use by ordinary people NOTE 5 In China a 30 mA RCD is not required for the socket outlet supplying air conditioning equipment and 2 erected in position not accessible to persons IEC 60364 7 704 2005 10 Low voltage electrical installations Part 7 704 Requirements for special installations or locations Construction and d
10. electrically tested periodically by a competent person to ensure that it operates at a leakage current of maximum 30 mA ina time of not more than 0 4 sec 7 2 7 Electrical Installation Safety Features for Portable Electrical Equipment The provision of lower voltage supply equipment to supply portable tools used in areas with increased risk of dangerous shock currents e g con struction sites see IEC 60364 7 704 or conducting locations with restrict ed movement see IEC 60364 7 706 Such reduced voltage supply equipment typically consists of a portable step down transformer supplying a nominal 110 V AC output In some cases the secondary winding is centre tapped to earth which ensures that the maximum possible shock voltage to earth is approximately 55 V as used in the UK and in Ireland 8 Safe use and Care of Portable Electrical Equipment As a minimum the following should apply e Use it in its intended manner as per manufacturer s instructions in its intended environment and never overload it It should be serviced only by competent personnel and in accordance with manufacturer s instructions e Transport it in a secure manner so as not subject it to unnecessary shocks or vibrations e Keep the flexible cable away from heat oil sharp edges and moving parts e Assess all risks from the equipment of damage to nearby electrical cables including supply cables to the equipment and water pipes Never use in r
11. of safety which has been verified by an independent agency This means that a purchaser does not have to rely on the claims of a manufac turer supplier Purchasers of equipment need to be aware of possible unauthorised use of these symbols It is important to distinguish between Quality Marks Identifiers and those relat ing to the Safety features of the equipment This Guideline is principally concerned with Safety 6 Guidance on Safety Standards associated with the Selection of Portable Electrical Equipment Further information on the above mentioned and other Marks Identifiers is con tained in Appendix 5 There are also other requirements which the customer may wish to specify in relation to portable equipment in addition to the above mentioned e Easy to use ergonomic features size etc e Adequate Instructions in the language of the country in which the equip ment is sold e Technical support and training included in the manufacturer s tender e Level of Maintenance Reliability e Warranty period e Has the manufacturer implemented a certified quality management sys tem e g ISO 9001 e Warning devices control indications and markings which are essential to the safety of users must be present and easily understood A further consideration in selecting portable electrical equipment is whether an equivalent battery operated version is available Where this applies a dramatic reduction in risk results to the
12. rated current up to and including 32 A that supply other ACSs are exempted provided that a warning is provided in Danish on the ACS e g with the following text Kun til forsyning af andre tavier Er ikke HFI beskyttet Only for the supply of other ACS No RCD protection NOTE 5 In Ireland electrical separation is not permitted in site installations NOTE 6 In Italy PELV is not admitted NOTE 7 In Sweden the requirement of this clause applies for socket outlets with rated current up to and including 16 A NOTE 8 In Hungary if the environmental conditions require it residual current devices with rated residual operating current of 100 mA can be used NOTE 9 In France all final circuits supplying socket outlets shall be protected by e residual current devices having a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA 412 5 or e be supplied by SELV or PELV 411 1 or e have electrical separation of circuits 413 5 each socket outlet and hand held electrical equipment being supplied by an individual isolating trans former or by separate windings of an isolating transformer 30 Appendix 1 National Legislation Republic of Ireland Extract from The Safety Health and Welfare at Work General Application Regulations 2007 Regulation 81 Portable equipment 1 An employer shall ensure that a A circuit supplying portable equipment or a socket outlet intended to sup ply portable equipment including any
13. safety and electromagnetic compati bility An application from manufacturer or vendor is based on attesta tions of conformity or test reports from accredited testing bodies or international certificates The significance of the Safety Mark is ultimately in the customer s interest as well as in the manufacturers and distributors based on quality and safety CCC Safety Mark China As of August 1 2003 the symbols CCIB and CCEE typically found on products were combined and replaced by the CCC Mark China merged its two compulsory inspection systems one to check contents of products for import and export and the other for quality control into a single procedure as part of its commit ment for entry into the World Trade Organization GOST R Safety Mark Russia The GOST R mark is a mandatory certification mark for all electri cal products to be shipped into Russia The laws of the Russian Federation prescribe conformity of products to the Russian safety standards GOST R The GOST R certificate is issued following technical evaluation of products to ensure compliance to Russian safety regulations 45 Appendix 5 NOM Safety Mark Mexico The Mexican government requires that all electronic products be tested for safety in Mexico for the mandatory NOM Mark Normality of Mexico Only test reports accredited by SINALP Sistema Nacional de Acreditamieno de Laboratorios de Pruebas National System of Accredit
14. user and the need for safety controls as outlined in this guideline is significantly reduced 15 7 Electrical Installation Safety Features for Portable Electrical Equipment The safety features of electrical installations are of prime importance These are designed to protect the users of portable equipment Compliance with Technical Standard IEC 60364 or equivalent will ensure that the installation is of the high est standard Use of the following equipment will reduce the risk to users using portable elec trical equipment 7 1 In general the installation of Residual Current Protective Devices RCDs Canada GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters provides protection to users of portable equipment When an electrical device is operating safely the amount of current going to the device equals that leaving The RCD compares these currents If there is a difference between these currents e g a leakage from the circuit a dangerous situation arises for the equipment user and the RCD switches off the current flow immediately thus protecting the user These RCDs should trip in 0 4 sec or less on leakage currents not exceeding 30 mA and provide the necessary protection to prevent danger to the user from life threatening electric shock However the RCD itself needs to be tested periodically as follows a Mechanical test using the dedicated push button trip and re set at fre quent intervals b It should be
15. without risk as described in that paragraph the employer shall ensure that the equipment is not used until it is made safe and certified as such in compliance with paragraph 2 4 An employer shall ensure that 32 a portable equipment other than portable transformers and portable gener ators supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current is not used in e construction work e external quarrying activities or e damp or confined locations unless its rating exceeds 2 kilovolt amperes Portable hand lamps supplied at a voltage exceeding 25 volts alternating current or 50 volts direct current are not used in e construction work e external quarrying activities or e damp or confined locations and where a transformer or engine driven generator is used to supply elec tricity to portable equipment at a voltage greater than 25 volts but not exceeding 125 volts alternating current the neutral star point of the secondary windings of three phase transformers and generators or the midpoint of the secondary windings of single phase transformers and gen erators shall be connected to earth and in the case of transformers these shall be of the double wound isolating type Appendix 1 Germany Recommendations The German Berufsgenossenschaft recommendations BGI 608 covering safety measures applying to portable electrical equipment at construction sites and assembly sites Safety measures
16. work in a safe environment and use safe equipment The following questions will help to evaluate if a company is effectively manag ing electrical safety in the workplace e Does the Company have a Health and Safety Management System in place e Does it have a Safety Policy has it identified hazards and carried out risk assessments e Does it set safety targets measure its performance and engage in con tinuous improvement e Does it communicate regularly with employees about electrical safety issues e Is the workplace a safe environment Are the workers competent and are the tools safe It is the last point that this Guideline specifically addresses Where identified by a risk assessment the employer is responsible for the design and implementation of an effective and safe system of inspection and test The design and implementation of this system should be carried out by someone having knowledge and experience of this particular subject This additionally applies to equipment used by contractors and to the use of hired equipment The purpose of this document is to give employers guidance in the development of Company policy in regard to the safe use of their portable electrical equip ment The content of the Guideline is also intended to be understood by non technical management 12 5 Relevant Legislation Codes of Practice There exists a wide range of publications which have relevance to this topic Directives
17. Guideline on Managing Safety in the Use of Portable Electrical Equipment in the Workplace m D i IL INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECUR TY ASSOCIATION 9 issa Section for Electricity Guideline on Managing Safety in the Use of Portable Electrical Equipment in the Workplace April 2009 The ISSA Electricity Section would like to thank all members of the international working group for their effort and commitment in the development of the guide line Eamon O Flynn Electricity Supply Board Ireland Convenor Burkhard Schulze ZVEH Germany Hartmut Oelmann BG ETE Germany Heiner Kehne Siemens Germany Jens Juhling ISSA Electricity Section Germany Joydeep Mukherjee ISSA Electricity Section Germany Josef Fornusek CSZE Czech Republic Jost Keller Electrosuisse Switzerland Lothar Kinzig ABB Germany Mihai Budan Transelectrica Romania Raul Arenas Garcia Endesa Spain Segundo Caeiro Rios Endesa Spain Ted Vandevis EU amp SA Canada Wolfgang Pechoc BG ETE Germany Zdenek Vaclavek CSZE Czech Republic ISBN Nr 978 3 937824 02 4 Editor International Social Security Association Section for Electricity Gas and Water c o Berufsgenossenschaft Energie Textil Elektro Gustav Heinemann Ufer 130 D 50968 K ln All rights reserved No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilzed in any form or by any electronic mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented includin
18. International Technical Standards National Legislation and Codes of Practice Subject matter relevant to the safety of portable electrical equipment includes e Standard of Electrical Installations e Compliance of the Equipment with Safety Symbols Identifiers at time of purchase How the equipment is used and where How is it maintained including inspection and testing Appendix 1 includes examples of National Legislation and Codes of Practice The List of Recommended Source Documents at the end of this Guideline includes relevant Directives and International Technical Standards In the course of developing this Guideline reference has been made to these documents 6 Guidance on Safety Standards associated with the Selection of Portable Electrical Equipment When purchasing portable electrical equipment always make sure it complies with the compulsory requirements contained in national legislation and relevant Directives Such regulations require manufacturers importers product suppliers etc to deliver only safe products to the marketplace Also these products should be delivered with instructions on their safe use Examples of Safety Marks Identifiers A 5 2 AS 5 Reputable certification of adequate safety in equipment purchased be identi fied via the above mentioned Marks Identifiers The association of these Marks Identifiers with portable equipment in the mar ketplace indicates a level
19. SRN F may be used 33 Appendix 1 United Kingdom Legal Requirements 1 The initial integrity safety of new work equipment when first supplied is cov ered by e Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which requires any person who designs manufactures imports or supplies any article for use at work or any article of fairground equipment to ensure so far as is reasonable practicable that the article is so designed and constructed that it will be safe and without risks to health at all times vvhen it is being set used cleaned or maintained by a per son at vvork to take such steps as are necessary to secure that persons supplied by that person vvith the article are provided vvith adequate information about the use for vvhich the article is designed or has been tested and about any conditions necessary to ensure that it vvill be safe and vvithout risks to health at all such times as are mentioned in paragraph 1 above and when it is being dismantled or disposed of The Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 1994 vvhich require cer tain safety objectives to be met including design and construction to assure protection against hazards arising from the electrical equipment and protection against hazards that may be caused by external influ ences on the electrical equipment The Supply of Machinery Safety Amendment Regulations 1994 which contain a general requirement f
20. ain or in wet conditions refer to the IP rating e Only use in explosive atmosphere if rated for such conditions Refer to the Ex Rating e When in use be aware of the following danger signs Dim or flickering lights e Arcs sparks e Sizzling buzzing sounds Odours that smell of burning material e g plastic rubber Frequent tripping of circuit breakers fuses e Use correctly rated protective devices and never by pass these devices e Store it in a careful manner when not in use Where appropriate users should be instructed in the use and care of equipment or the relevant instructions concerning the work equipment should be available in a form and language they can understand 9 Inspection of Portable Electrical Equipment by the User Before using any portable electrical equipment the user should inspect the equipment The user visually checks that it is safe to use with no signs of dam age or defects and that it is correctly rated for use in the proposed location and environment Users should be instructed in the method of carrying out inspections Check Tool Appliance Is the on off switch working correctly Is there any sign of damage to casing Are there any loose parts or missing screws Is there evidence of overheating or moisture Examine its voltage rating to ensure that it is the right voltage for the purpose e g 110 volt hand tools for construction sites UK and Ireland and the appropriate p
21. ation of Testing Laboratories are accepted PSB Safety Mark Singapore The PSB Mark is issued by the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board The Safety Authority PSB is the statutory body appointed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to administer the regulations The Safety Authority has amended the regulations requiring all registered controlled goods to be individually marked with the SAFETY Mark Manufacturers importers traders retail ers and advertisers who are involved in supplying controlled goods must ensure that their obligations under the regulations are ful filled 4 European Union Safety Compliance Declaration CE stands for Communaut s Europ amp ennes the European Communities CE marking was introduced by the European Commision and it is the Commision who also set the conditions for use of the CE mark within the different CE mark directives With the CE marking the manufacturer or his representative within the EU declare that the individual product is in compliance with the general safety regulations in the CE marking directives Manufacturers outside the EU can appoint European importers as their representative in the EU The CE mark is mandatory in the EU member countries 46 Recommended Source Documents e Council Directive 95 63 EC of December 1995 amending Directive 89 655 EEC concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers a
22. circuit supplied by an electrical gen erator and in which is used alternating current at a voltage e exceeding 125 volts and e not exceeding 1 000 volts is protected by one or more residual current devices having a tripping cur rent not exceeding 30 mA operating within such period of time so as to provide the necessary protection to prevent danger to any person coming into direct or indirect contact with any live part of the circuit Portable equipment is maintained in a manner fit for safe use and portable equipment which is e exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in danger and e supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current is e visually checked by the user before use and e periodically inspected by a competent person appropriate to the nature location and use of the equipment 2 An employer shall ensure where appropriate that a competent person a tests any portable equipment described in paragraph 1 c i and ii and b certifies whether or not the portable equipment including any cables and plugs was on the day of test as far as could reasonably be ascertained safe and without risk to persons coming into direct or indirect contact with any live part of the equipment 31 Appendix 1 3 If the certificate of the competent person referred to in paragraph 2 indi cates that the portable equipment tested was not on the day of the test safe and
23. d by those involved with portable electrical equipment The Guideline is not designed as a training manual but contains information best practices and general recommendations deemed appropriate for the safe use of portable electrical equipment The approach contained in the guideline reflects a recommended minimum standard Note The contents of the Guideline including all advice recommendations and pro cedures are provided as a service by the ISSA Electricity Section and are intended for informational purposes only No representation of any kind is made to any per son business or entity whatsoever with regard to the accuracy completeness or suf ficiency of the information contained herein Any and all use of or reliance upon this Guideline and the information contained herein is solely and entirely at the user s risk The ISSA Electricity Section shall not be in any way responsible or liable for any form of loss or damage incurred as a result of any form or manner of reliance upon any part or portion of this Guideline 1 Introduction The use of portable electrical equipment is a common requirement in the work place Such equipment ranges from desk lamps in offices to drills and grinders on construction sites All of these devices are potential safety hazards and therefore controls and safe guards need to be put in place to deal with the associated risks The degree of maintenance and this includes inspection and test varies f
24. ed from manufacturers e Polarity Verify the polarity of the supply cables and that connections to the equip ment are correct e Earth continuity Class 1 equipment If the electrical safety of equipment is based on a low impedance to earth those who have a Protective Earth PE conductor then the earth continu ity has to be checked The impedance has to be measured between PE connection at the power plug and any metallic part of the equipment which may be hazardous in case of an electrical fault For protection against electrical shock the PE impedance should be at about 0 3 Ohm or better e Insulation resistance Electrical safety depends also on a good insulation resistance between the electrical parts and the touchable and metallic housing Usually the resist ance is measured at a voltage of 250 V or 500 V DC between the internal parts and the metallic parts of the housing An insulation resistance of 1 Megohm or more is usually good e Functional Check This is a final check to verify that the equipment is functioning properly 24 11 Periodic Testing of Portable Electrical Equipment by a Competent Person e Other tests For some equipment it may be recommended by the manufacturer to do some additional tests or inspections Examples noise grinders drills vacuum cleaners radiation hand lamps with power LEDs force drills e temperature soldering irons Which additional tests are recommended and how to d
25. eed to be tested Where testing is deemed appropriate it should be carried out by a competent person Testing will normally be carried out in conjunction with an inspection as described in Section 10 above See Appendix 2 for examples of Periodic Test Schedules Reasons for carrying out testing would include As a result of inspections carried out e If required by manufacturer s instructions e After repairs e After a prolonged period of non use Where previous history involves accidents or near misses e Where equipment is second hand and previous history is unknown e Use of equipment in a hazardous environment Where there maybe a risk of mechanical damage or heavy wear and tear e Risk of bad weather conditions Extremes of temperature pressure e Presence of moisture dust e Use in explosive atmosphere For example e A User Inspection may be sufficient where the following applies Use in a low risk environment and Where Class 2 insulation applies 23 11 Periodic Testing of Portable Electrical Equipment by a Competent Person e Periodic Inspection or Testing may be appropriate where the following applies Equipment is 230 V AC and Class 1 Equipment is used in a hazardous environment e Equipment is handheld e Therefore is more likely to become damaged e There is greater risk of fatal shock to the user Tests carried out should include those listed below test and tolerance values may need to be sourc
26. egislation international standards and national codes of practice The quality of the electrical installation and the associated protection provided perform a primary role in regard to the safety of users of Portable Electrical Equipment The following are some examples of requirements and recommendations which impact on the safety of persons using Portable Electrical Equipment International Technical Standard The following are installation based measures for increased safety of handling with portable electrical equipment taken from the IEC 60364 standard IEC 60364 4 41 2005 12 Low voltage electrical installations Part 4 41 Protection for safety Protection against electric shock 411 3 3 Additional protection In AC systems additional protection by means of a residual current protective device RCD in accordance with 415 1 shall be provided for e socket outlets with a rated current not exceeding 20 A that are for use by ordinary persons and are intended for general use and e mobile equipment with a current rating not exceeding 32A for use outdoors NOTE 1 An exemption may be made for e socket outlets for use under the supervision of skilled or instructed persons e g in some commercial or industrial locations or e a specific socket outlet provided for connection of a particular item of equip ment 28 Appendix 1 NOTE 2 In Spain and Ireland additional protection is provided for socket outlets with
27. emolition site installations 704 410 3 1 6 Circuits supplying socket outlets with rated current up to and including 32 A and other circuits supplying hand held electrical equipment with rated current up to and including 32 A shall be protected by e residual current devices having a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30 mA 412 5 or e be supplied by SELV or PELV Separated or Protected Extra Low Voltage 411 1 or e have electrical separation of circuits 413 5 each socket outlet and hand held electrical equipment being supplied by an individual isolating trans former or by separate windings of an isolating transformer 29 Appendix 1 NOTE 1 In the Netherlands circuits supplying socket outlets with rated current up to and including 32 A that supply other Assemblies for Construction Sites ACSs are exempted provided that constructional provisions for these socket outlet have been provided to avoid misuse NOTE 2 In Germany circuits supplying socket outlets with rated current up to and including 32 A are exempted provided that constructional provisions for these socket outlet have been provided to avoid misuse NOTE 3 In Finland circuits supplying socket outlets with rated current up to and including 32 A that supply other are exempted provided that constructional provi sions or warning signs for these socket outlet have been provided to avoid mis use NOTE 4 In Denmark circuits supplying socket outlets with
28. equipment where necessary e Training instruction of employees in the safe use of the portable electrical equipment where appropriate e Training instruction of employees to carry out User Inspections Test instrumentation should be calibrated in compliance with best practice and manufacturers instructions Maintenance of Records e It will be necessary to keep a register of all electrical tools as well as records of all inspections test and maintenance carried out In particular the following information should be recorded Tool Register to include Make Model Serial Number Year of Purchase Location Frequency of Formal Inspection Frequency of Test 12 Elements of a Periodic Inspection and Test System e Identification of equipment to be inspected or tested bar code serial number etc e Records of Periodic Inspections and Tests to include Name of the person who carried out the inspection test or main tenance e Dates carried out Result or outcome Date when the next inspection and test must be carried out Records of Periodic Inspections and Testing should be held for an ade quate period of time and at least until the next inspection and test 27 Appendix 1 International Technical Standards National Legislation and Codes of Practice for Individual Countries Measures to reduce risk for users of Portable Electrical Equipment are covered in a range of publications which includes directives l
29. g photocopying and recording or in any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from the publishers C ontents Foreword 10 11 12 Introduction Scope Definitions Who is this Guideline aimed at Relevant Legislation Codes of Practice Guidance on Safety Standards associated with the Selection of Portable Electrical Equipment Electrical Installation Safety Features for Portable Electrical Equipment Safe use and Care of Portable Electrical Equipment Inspection of Portable Electrical Equipment by the User Periodic inspection of Portable Electrical Equipment by a competent person Periodic Testing of Portable Electrical Equipment by a competent person Elements of a Periodic Inspection and Test System Page 10 12 13 14 16 18 19 21 23 26 Contents Page Appendices and Recommended Source Documents Appendix 1 28 International Technical Standards National Legislation and Codes of Practice for Individual Countries Appendix 2 36 Examples of Periodic Test and Inspection Schedules Appendix 3 39 Examples of Inspection and Test Record Forms Appendix 4 42 Technical Standards for carrying out Tests on Portable Electrical Equipment Appendix 5 43 Safety Marks Identifiers associated with Portable Electrical Equipment Recommended Source Documents 47 Foreword This Guideline describes safe practices that should be followe
30. lug top for that voltage Are live parts properly guarded so as not to be inadvertently accessible Flexible Cable and Extension leads Are they securely anchored to plug and to appliance tool with no signs of cuts fraying brittle cable leads kinked or coiled taped joints or overloading overheating indicated by colour change or smell Cable cores should not be externally visible All cables should be appropriate to the environment in which they are used Plug Is cable securely anchored with no signs of cracked casing overheat ing loose or bent pins or loose strands Fuses where fitted should not show any signs of overheating and be cor rectly secured Socket outlet Is it free from cracks or other damage Are there any signs of overheating Is it properly secured 9 Inspection of Portable Electrical Equipment by the User If the user checks indicate that the tool appliance is faulty or defective or if a fault occurs during subsequent use the tool appliance should be taken out of service It should be marked tagged as unsafe It should not be used again until the fault has been identified and repaired and the tool appliance is tested and certified by a competent person as fit for use 20 10 Periodic inspection of Portable Electrical Equipment by a competent person This requirement applies to portable electrical equipment that is exposed to con ditions likely to cause deterioration liable to result i
31. majority of associated accidents are non electrical Where electrical acci dents are reported they may not be due to defective equipment It is therefore difficult to come to any firm conclusions 1 Introduction An examination of available information shows that the ratio of portable electrical equipment accidents to all electrical accidents is approximately 1 5 source Germany We also know that if there is a risk due to electricity the risk of fatality is signifi cantly greater A typical fatality injury ratio for all accidents can be in the order of 1 160 but this rises to 1 14 where electricity is the cause of the accident source Canada Furthermore this Guideline includes the maintenance of hand held tools The greatest risk of electrical shock applies when there is a likelihood of current flow ing from hand to hand Hand held equipment presents a particular danger in this regard It is therefore essential that all possible steps be taken to reduce any risk associated with Portable Electrical Equipment It is hoped that this Guideline will contribute towards a safer working environ ment for users of Portable Electrical Equipment 2 Scope The focus of the guideline is directed at low voltage AC 110 to 230 V equip ment which is commonly used in the workplace In particular it refers to portable equipment Throughout this guide the term portable electrical equipment is used to describe electrical devices tha
32. n danger The requirement to carry out periodic inspections and the frequency of inspection will depend on the outcome of a risk assessment of the hazards associated with the environment in which the equipment is used For example in Ireland where 110 V supplies with earthed centre tap 55 V for portable equipment are a legal requirement on con struction sites such portable equipment would not be subjected to periodic inspection and test by a competent person See Appendix 2 for examples of Periodic Inspection Schedules Where the outcome of a risk assessment deems it necessary a competent per son should carry out a user inspection as in 9 above and in addition check the following i Tool Appliance If the appliance is designed to be earthed Class check the integrity of the earth If it is an appliance which is not earthed Class 2 check for the symbol m This is a square within a square and may be found on the statutory label If it is to be used in damp or wet conditions or atmospheres or in conditions where there is a liability of ingress of dust or solids into its works has it an appropriate IP rating If it is to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres has it an appropriate Ex Rating Rated voltage and if appropriate Class category IP and Ex ratings should be stamped on the appliance or on its rating plate 21 10 Periodic inspection of Portable Electrical Equipment by a competent pers
33. nt It is recommended to mark the equipment checked and approved as free of defects e g with an inspection plate or a label Note on Construction sites and assembly sites The effectiveness of the safety measures with RCD has to be checked by a skilled person at least once per month In addition to that the operator has to press the check button each workday Portable electrical equipment used at construction sites and assembly sites has to be checked for external visible damages and defects before each use Operating Recommended conditions Examples testing period heavy use grinding of metals aluminium magnesium and greased laminations Weekly usage in areas with conductive dust wet grinding of non conductive materials core drilling steel girder construction tunnel 3 months and gallery engineering normal use structural engineering general civil engineering electrical installation sanitary and heating 6 months installation wood construction light use office e g desk lamp desktop printer fax connecting line power supply unit for notebook 2 years coffee machine 1 If an error quota gt 2 has been verified the checking intervals should be reduced 36 Appendix 2 F Example 2 UK Suggested Initial Inspection and Test Intervals Type of Business Equipment hire Construction sites Light industrial Heavy industrial high risk of equipment damage Double insulated equipment
34. o these should be found in the user manual If testing is successful then e Certify the tool appliance as fit for use e Keep a record for a suitable period of time of test results e name of the inspector and e date on testing If the test is unsuccessful the tool appliance should be taken out of service It should be marked tagged as unsafe It should not be used again until the fault has been identified and repaired and the tool appliance tested and certified by a competent person as fit for use 25 12 Elements of a Periodic Inspection and Test System A risk assessment will indicate whether a system for the inspection and test of portable electrical equipment will need to be designed and implemented The elements of such a system should include the following 26 e Institute requirement for routine visual checks by the user Development of checklists for formal Inspections e Institute system of periodic inspections by competent persons Development of a Work Method for Testing e Institute system of testing by competent persons to include tagging of portable electrical equipment Tagging to include identification and use until date Tagging to be durable and prominent Bar codes may be used for identification e The system of Inspection and Test to accommodate an outcome where fail ures occur appropriate tagging removal from service etc e Carry out maintenance repair and replacement of tools and
35. on ii Flexible Cable Extension leads and plugs Check that the cable mains lead is secure at both the tool appliance and plug and where covers can be removed that its cores are secure and correctly connected with no excess insulation removed and with no bare loose strands Check that fusing is correct where fitted The frequency of these inspections should be appropriate to controlling the assessed risks associated with the equipment use Make a record of such inspections and retain for a suitable period of time If the inspection by the competent person indicates that the tool appliance is faulty or defective the tool appliance should be taken out of service It should be marked tagged as unsafe It should not be used again until the fault has been identified and repaired and the tool appliance tested and certified by a competent person as fit for use Note that these periodic inspections constitute a more rigorous approach e g involve removal of covers than that carried out by the user They also play an auditing and back up role to the user inspections 22 11 Periodic Testing of Portable Electrical Equipment by a Competent Person The requirement to test and its frequency will depend on the outcome of a risk assessment of the hazards associated with the environment in which the equip ment is used e g equipment used in environments where it is safe from acciden tal damage or environmental degradation may not n
36. or protection against electrical haz ards 2 The general duties covering the use and maintenance of work equipment in addition to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are contained in e Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which requires the provision and maintenance of plant so far as is reasonably practi cable safe 34 Appendix 1 e Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 which require an employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to health and safety of employees for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements imposed upon him under other relevant law Such a risk assessment should include risks arising from the use of electrical equipment e the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 which require the employer person in control to select suitable work equip ment regulation 5 and to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state in efficient working order and in good repair 35 Appendix 2 Examples of Periodic Inspection and Test Schedules Example 1 Germany The German Berufsgenossenschaft recommendations for tests and inspection The guidelines contained in the table below apply to testing periods These checking intervals have to be adjusted to the respective operational and ambient conditions depending on the results of a Risk Assessme
37. rom country to country in line with national legislation and codes of practice In gener al there is a requirement for employers to take the necessary steps that will min imise risk to employees in so far as it is reasonably practicable It would appear that in the majority of countries systematic inspection and test of equipment by competent persons does not take place However in some coun tries the practice of periodic inspection and test has been instituted The fre quency of periodic inspections and tests can vary between weekly and 4 years The frequency is determined by the associated risk e g whether the equipment is office based or in use on a construction site what protection does the electri cal installation provide and also on the level of defects found as a result of carrying out the process of inspection and test The purpose of this guideline is to promote a best practice approach to the main tenance of portable electrical equipment It contains common elements from indi vidual national practices that are considered to be best practice Examples of national legislation codes of practice of participating countries are included in the Appendices Note on Accident Statistics Accident statistics covering electrical aspects of Portable Electrical Equipment are inconsistent from country to country due to variations in the methods of com pilation Portable equipment is defined in different ways and in any event the vast
38. t are not part of a fixed electrical installation but are intend ed to be connected to a fixed installation or generator by means of a flexible cable and socket outlet Typical examples are portable hand operated and mov able plug in electrical appliances used at a workplace The equipment covered in this Guideline is defined in IEV 60050 826 as being Handheld or Mobile Handheld This is defined as equipment that is intended to be held in the hand during normal use Mobile This is defined as equipment that is moved while in operation or which can easily be moved from one place to another while connected to the supply This Guideline applies to portable equipment having a mass not exceeding 18 kgs and connection to the electrical supply is assumed to be via plug and socket outlet Examples of portable equipment Hand drills Hand saws Paint sprayers e Soldering irons e Vacuum cleaners e Grinders Desk lamps e Heaters e Fans Flexible Cables Extension Leads 2 Scope The guideline deals with safe practices which will ensure that such devices are electrically safe Such practices will encompass safety features in the type of electrical installation which supplies the portable equipment However it will principally deal with routine maintenance and this includes inspection and test of equipment The guideline contains a best practice approach to inspection and test It also co
39. t is either Handheld or Mobile Handheld hand held equipment 826 16 05 This is defined as equipment that is intended to be held in the hand dur ing normal use Mobile mobile equipment 826 16 04 This is defined as equipment that is moved while in operation or which can easily be moved from one place to another while connected to the supply This Guideline applies to portable equipment having a mass not exceeding 18 kgs Connection of equipment to the power supply is assumed to be via a plug and socket outlet 10 3 Definitions Reporting Recording of the results of inspection and testing Testing Implementation of measures on electrical equipment by means of which its effec tiveness is proved NOTE It includes ascertaining values by means of appropriate measuring instru ments said values not being detectable by inspection Verification All measures by means of which compliance of the electrical equipment with the relevant requirements of technical standards and those of manufacturers NOTE It comprises inspection testing and reporting Workplace Any place where a worker is required to carry out work 11 4 Who is the Guideline aimed at It is aimed at all employers who are responsible for workplaces where portable electrical equipment is used Employers are responsible under law for the safety of their employees They should therefore take all reasonable care that their employees
40. t often also to the declared 43 Appendix 5 44 national differences of the various member countries National dif ferences are special requirements that the IECEE CB Scheme permits each country to adopt to address local safety concerns Keymark The Keymark is a voluntary mark It is the only pan European safety mark for household appliances It provides the customers in Europe with a clear and simple message that the product com plies with a harmonized European safety standard Regulatory authorities will see it as supporting CE Marking A product carrying the Keymark does not have to be submitted for additional verifica tion to certification bodies in other European countries Up to now appliances approved in different European countries have car ried different national marks even though the assessment sys tems are broadly similar Keymark offers the alternative of being a single common mark recognised in all these countries A single mark removes doubt and confusion VDE Association for Electrical Electronic and Information Technologies Applies to electrotechnical products including products according to the Appliance and Product Safety Act GPSG and Medical Product Act MPG The VDE Mark indicates conformity with the VDE Standards or European or internationally harmonised stan dards and confirms compliance with protective requirements of the applicable EU Directive s GS Mark German Safety approval mark
41. t work second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 1 of Directive 89 391 EEC e Council Directive 2006 95 EC Electrical Equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits The Low Voltage Directive e Council Directive 98 37 EC The Machinery Directive e IEC 60364 7 Low voltage electrical installations Part 7 Requirements for spe cial installations or locations Section 704 Construction and demolition site installations Section 706 Conducting Locations with Restricted Movement e IEC 60335 1 2006 Household and similar Electrical Appliances Safety Part 1 General Requirements Canadian Electrical Code Part 1 Part 2 National Standard of Canada CAN CSA C22 2 No 71 1 M89 EUSA Safe Practice Guide Low Voltage Applications e Ontario Electrical Safety Report 2006 Electrical Safety Authority EN 60745 Hand held Motor operated Electric Tools Safety e EN 61029 1 2003 Safety of Transportable Motor Operated Electric Tools Part 1 General Requirements ET 215 2008 Guide to the Maintenance Inspection and Testing of Portable Equipment in the Workplace Electro Technical Council of Ireland e Guide to the Safety Health and Welfare at Work General Application Regulations 2007 HSA Ireland 47 Recommended Source Documents e Ordinance concerning the protection of Safety and Health in the Provision of Work Equipment and its use at
42. vers the identification and tagging of equipment to ensure that adequate records exist of test and inspection Arisk assessment will assist in deciding on the degree of inspection and test The degree of inspection and test will vary depending on whether the equipment is used in a hostile operating environment or used in an office building a class room etc The quality of the equipment is of paramount importance in the first instance Some guidance on recognising good quality equipment is also included 3 Definitions IEC Definitions are used where available Competent person A person possessing adequate qualifications such as suitable training and suffi cient knowledge experience and skill for the safe performance of the specific work A competent person must be approved to carry out any work undertaken Hostile operating environment Includes an operating environment that may cause mechanical damage to the item of equipment or expose the equipment to moisture heat vibration corro sive substances or dust Inspection Examination of electrical equipment using all the senses in order to ascertain correct selection and proper erection of electrical equipment Maintenance Combination of all technical and administrative actions including supervision actions intended to retain an item in or restore it to a state in which it can per form a required function Portable equipment According to IEV 60050 826 this is equipment tha
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