An electrical installation must not only be safe when it is built – it must also be operated and maintained safely, year after year. That is the purpose of the Danish executive order no. 1608 on safety in the operation of electrical installations, which has applied since 1 January 2018.
What is the executive order about?
The executive order sets the framework for who is responsible for an electrical installation, how the work is organised and how safety is documented. Among other things, it sets requirements for:
- roles and responsibilities in operating the installation
- agreements with contractors and others working on the installation
- operating and work procedures
- inspection and maintenance
- documentation and a quality management system
The Danish Safety Technology Authority supervises the rules.
The owner is responsible
The starting point is that the owner of the electrical installation is responsible for operating it safely. Among other things, the owner is responsible for a quality management system for operation, which must ensure that the installation is operated correctly so that it does not pose a danger to people, animals or property.
The owner can let an operating company handle the operation. In that case, the company’s tasks and authority must be clearly described.
Roles when working on the installation
The executive order describes a number of functions that must be staffed when work is carried out – for example switching leader, switching person, work leader and team leader. The point is that it must always be clear who may switch, who leads the work and who is responsible for safety on site.
Why does it matter?
Unclear roles and missing agreements are a classic cause of errors and accidents – especially when several companies work on the same installation. Lack of knowledge of the rules can also lead to enforcement notices and fines. When everyone with responsibility knows the requirements, it is easier to get agreements and documentation in place.
Who should know the rules?
- installation owners and operations managers
- electrical contractors
- design engineers and consultants
- HSE managers and safety coordinators
1608 or L-AUS?
Executive order 1608 is about organisation, roles and responsibilities. An electrical safety course (L-AUS) is about how the individual works safely on or near live installations. Many people need both.
Source: Danish executive order no. 1608 of 20/12/2017 on safety in the operation of electrical installations (retsinformation.dk).
Executive order 1608 course online
Roles, responsibilities, agreements and documentation in about 45 minutes – with a personal course certificate.
