Electrically instructed person (EuP) and qualified electrician in Germany: who may do what?

What is an electrically instructed person?

An electrically instructed person (EuP) is someone who has been informed by a qualified electrician about the tasks assigned and the possible hazards of improper conduct, trained where necessary and instructed on protective devices, personal protective equipment and protective measures. They may only take on the tasks for which they have been instructed – and only under the direction and supervision of a qualified electrician.

The terms come from DGUV Regulation 3 “Electrical installations and equipment” (DGUV Vorschrift 3) and its implementation guidance – for public-sector accident insurance funds, the identical DGUV Regulation 4 applies – and from the standards DIN VDE 1000-10 and DIN VDE 0105-100. Essentially, three levels are distinguished: qualified electrician, electrically instructed person and electrical layperson. In practice, EuPs are often building technicians, maintenance staff or employees who are to help test portable equipment in the company.

Qualified electrician, EuP and layperson compared

Under Section 2 (3) of DGUV Regulation 3, a qualified electrician is someone who, based on technical training, knowledge and experience and knowledge of the relevant provisions, can assess the work assigned and recognise possible hazards. According to the implementation guidance, this is usually proven by completed training, for example as an electrical engineer, technician, master electrician or journeyman electrician.

• Qualified electrician (Elektrofachkraft)

  RequirementElectrical training, experience and knowledge of the relevant provisions

  Typical tasksInstalling, modifying and maintaining electrical installations, carrying out and taking responsibility for tests under DGUV Regulation 3, instructing and supervising EuPs

• Qualified electrician for specified tasks (Elektrofachkraft für festgelegte Tätigkeiten)

  RequirementTheoretical and practical training for specific tasks described by the employer in a work instruction (DGUV Principle 303-001)

  Typical tasksSimilar, recurring work on equipment in installations up to 1,000 V AC or 1,500 V DC, generally in the de-energised state

• Electrically instructed person (EuP)

  RequirementInstruction by a qualified electrician for the specific tasks assigned

  Typical tasksTesting portable equipment with a suitable tester, carrying out specified simple tasks – always under the direction and supervision of a qualified electrician

• Electrical layperson

  RequirementNo electrical qualification, general safety instruction

  Typical tasksUsing equipment as intended, checking for visible damage before use, pressing the test button of the residual current device

What an EuP may do – and what not

What an EuP may do does not follow from a fixed catalogue but from their instruction: they take on exactly the tasks for which a qualified electrician has instructed them. DGUV Regulation 3 and its implementation guidance provide for them in particular here:

• repeat testing of portable equipment such as extension cables, hand tools or office equipment – with suitable measuring and test equipment and under the direction and supervision of a qualified electrician
• monthly testing of protective measures with residual current devices in non-stationary installations, for example on site distribution boards – also with suitable measuring and test equipment
• assisting with installing, modifying and maintaining electrical installations and equipment, provided a qualified electrician directs and supervises the work (Section 3 (1) of DGUV Regulation 3)

An EuP's tasks do not include testing fixed installations such as building wiring or distribution boards, which the implementation guidance reserves for the qualified electrician, setting test intervals, repairing equipment on their own initiative or any activity for which they have not been instructed.

Using EuPs to test portable equipment

The most common reason to make employees EuPs is the testing of portable equipment under DGUV Regulation 3. The implementation guidance allows this if suitable measuring and test equipment is available and a qualified electrician takes on direction and supervision. This is how to organise it:

1. 1

   Appoint the responsible qualified electrician

   An in-house or external qualified electrician takes on direction and supervision of the tests. Record in writing who this is and what they are responsible for.

2. 2

   Define the tasks

   The qualified electrician specifies which equipment groups the EuP tests, with which tester and following which procedure – ideally in a work instruction. Equipment with its own test standards, such as medical devices or arc welding equipment, does not belong in such a standard instruction.

3. 3

   Instruct and train

   The EuP learns the tester, the sequence of inspecting, measuring and functional testing, the limit values, labelling and how to handle failed equipment. The instruction is documented with date, content and signatures.

4. 4

   Provide suitable testers

   The tester must be suitable for the test task and calibrated. Devices that guide through the test sequence and store measured values make the work easier – they do not replace the assessment in cases of doubt.

5. 5

   Accompany, check, assess

   The qualified electrician carries out spot checks, is available for questions, assesses anomalies and signs off the test results. How closely they accompany the EuP depends on the EuP's experience and the type of test.

Under the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (BetrSichV), tests are carried out by a person qualified to test (zur Prüfung befähigte Person, Section 14 BetrSichV). For electrical hazards, this is a qualified electrician with electrical training, at least one year of professional experience and recent work in the testing field. The EuP can support them in a test team but does not replace them. The record must state the type, scope and result of the test and the name and signature of the person testing (Section 14 (7) BetrSichV).

Direction and supervision: the role of the qualified electrician

“Under the direction and supervision of a qualified electrician” does not mean that the qualified electrician must constantly stand next to the EuP. According to the implementation guidance on Section 3 of DGUV Regulation 3, it means that they exercise managerial and technical responsibility. This includes in particular:

• monitoring the proper execution of the work
• ordering, carrying out and checking the necessary safety measures and providing safety equipment
• instructing electrically instructed persons
• instructing electrical laypersons in safe behaviour
• monitoring the work and the people deployed and supervising them where necessary

If the company has no electrically qualified management, technical and supervisory responsibility for the electrical area is often transferred to a responsible qualified electrician (verantwortliche Elektrofachkraft) – a term from DIN VDE 1000-10. The transfer should be made in writing and clearly name tasks, powers and area; for transferring employer duties, Section 13 of DGUV Regulation 1 requires written form anyway. Overall responsibility remains with the employer.

Instruction, appointment and refreshers

DGUV Regulation 3 does not prescribe a fixed course length for the EuP. What matters is that a qualified electrician has instructed the person for their specific tasks and that this can be proven. The following approach has proven its worth:

• Check suitability: the person must be reliable and able to understand the instruction – supervisors select them together with the qualified electrician.
• Instruct: tasks, hazards of electric current, protective measures, what to do in case of defects and accidents, for tests also the tester and test procedure – with practical exercises.
• Appoint in writing: which tasks on which installations or equipment, under the direction of which qualified electrician. The record protects both sides.
• Document: date, content, names and signatures of the EuP and the qualified electrician.
• Repeat: like any safety instruction at least once a year (Section 4 of DGUV Regulation 1) and additionally when tasks, equipment or testers change.

Typical mistakes in practice

• No qualified electrician in the background: employees test equipment after a course, but nobody takes on direction and supervision.
• Tasks not defined: the EuP repairs plugs, opens devices or tests fixed installations although they have not been instructed to do so.
• Instruction cannot be proven: there is no documentation, or the last instruction was years ago.
• Unsuitable or uncalibrated testers: the measured values are then worthless.
• Anomalies without assessment: unclear measurements are not presented to the qualified electrician, failed equipment stays in use.
• Terms confused: the EuP is listed as a person qualified to test although they do not meet the requirements.

Checklist: using EuPs in the company

• Qualified electrician for direction and supervision appointed
• EuP tasks defined: equipment groups, activities, tester
• Work instruction for testing portable equipment in place
• EuP instructed and trained by the qualified electrician, record documented
• Written appointment of the EuP available
• Suitable, calibrated tester provided
• Spot checks and assessment by the qualified electrician arranged
• Instruction repeated at least once a year

Free templates for this guide

As PDF and Excel, free – to use in your own company.

• Testing duties

  DGUV V3 test report template (PDF) and test list (Excel)

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