Most of the devices used in daily life work with electricity. Although electricity is extremely dangerous, it has become an integral part of everyday life. However, the characteristics of electricity such as current and voltage put people's life and property safety at risk. Attempting to take all kinds of measures to ensure that people are not harmed by electricity is the basis of electrical safety.
Electrical safety is especially important in two aspects. First, all electrical machines and equipment used in production should work in conditions that do not threaten the health of employees. This concerns not only the safety of the employees, but also the property security of the enterprises. Second, if the company produces electricity-powered products, it is necessary to ensure that consumers do not suffer any harm when using them. In this respect, it is necessary to protect the life and property safety of consumers.
In order to ensure electrical safety in both aspects, it is necessary to ensure that both the machinery and equipment used in production and the electrical or electronic products produced comply with the relevant regulations and standards published by domestic and foreign organizations. Therefore, it is important to measure, test and control them.
The use of electrical energy brings about electric shock, fire and other hazards. The Low Voltage Directive 2006 / 95 / AT, published in the European Union, is concerned with the safe use of electrical machinery and equipment. This regulation has been published under the name of Low Voltage Regulation (2006 / 95 / AT) in our country within the scope of harmonization studies. This regulation applies to all machines and equipment that use or produce voltage between 50 volt alternating current (75 volt direct current) and 1000 volt alternating current (1500 volt direct current).
In addition, there are other legal regulations regarding other machinery and equipment that use electrical energy. For example, the requirements for electrical safety relating to special electrical equipment used in railways, airways or medical devices are laid down in different legal regulations.
The safety of all machinery and equipment using electrical energy is verified by electrical tests. The main tests performed within the scope of electrical safety tests are as follows:
- EMC (Electro Magnetic Compability) tests
- EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) tests
- LVD Low Voltage Directive tests
- IP (Ingress Protection) tests
- Electrical resistance tests
- Product safety tests
- Machine safety tests
- CE product tests
An important part of the occupational accidents occurring every year in our country is caused by electrical accidents. Electricity is used in almost every sector and every machine and machine in industry. It is inevitable that there will be loss of life and property if the necessary conditions are not complied with in terms of legal regulations and related standards both during the installation and use of the electrical installation.
The main risk factors for electricity are:
- Electrical installation is not installed by qualified persons
- Failure of maintenance and repair of the electrical installation when necessary
- Machinery or equipment not grounded or properly grounded
- The deterioration of grounding by external factors over time
- Not enough personal protective and safety equipment is provided to employees or employees do not use them
- Employees are unconscious about occupational health and safety issues or fail to comply with these trainings
- Overconfidence of employees and not paying due attention to electricity
- Unconscious intervention by the employees themselves
