Electrical Safety

HSE supports CERN Departments, projects, and experiments on electrical safety related to fixed electrical installations, electrical equipment, and the operational aspects of activities involving electrical risks.

Main activities

  • Advise on electrical safety requirements, applicable standards, and protective measures.
  • Support the definition and implementation of electrical safety measures.
  • Review technical files, specifications, procedures, and safety documentation.
  • Contribute to risk assessments, safety reviews, and incident analysis.
  • Support commissioning, testing, and operational readiness.
  • Support electrical safety aspects of specific technical domains, such as arc-flash, high-voltage test stands, photovoltaics, lightning protection, and emergency switching-off.

Support for projects and experiments

  • Support electrical safety aspects from the design stage onwards.
  • Review risks linked to installation, operation, and intervention.
  • Support non-standard or complex installations with specific safety constraints.

Documentation, awareness, and continuous improvement

  • Review and improve electrical safety procedures, forms, and guidance documents.
  • Contribute to electrical safety awareness and training activities.
  • Use feedback from the field, inspections, and incidents to improve practices.

Inspections, Compliance & Accreditation

We perform systematic electrical safety inspections to identify non-conformities and verify the implementation of safety measures in the field. This includes:

  • Inspections: Performing Initial Inspections as requested by Project Leaders and Periodic Inspections to all infrastructure at CERN
  • Operational Readiness: Supporting EP on Electrical Inspections before Experiment start-up for Beam Permit.
  • Follow-up: Working with stakeholders to track and close out corrective actions.
    • SAILOR ELEC Resolver has been developed to facilitate follow-up of non-conformities in el. installations
    • SAILOR ELEC Reporting has been developed to provide insight and statistics regarding non-conformities in el. installations
  • Personnel Competence: Advising on requirements for Personnel Accreditation in collaboration with CERN Safety Training

Practical information

Complete practical electrical safety information and awareness materials are available on the dedicated Safety Risks page: 
hse.cern/safety-risks/electrical

Contact

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