External audits to evaluate and enhance electrical safety and maintenance

The performance of electrical systems depends on, among other things, the type and quality of maintenance and the safe operation of the equipment. It is necessary to evaluate the quality of the maintenance and safety procedures utilized within the safe work practice program. The paper advises the use of external auditing of electrical systems and maintenance programs for the advantages it brings to the company. The paper also explores the concept of a possible mandatory certification of “conformance to safe standards” by a neutral party. Various standards, recommended practices and statutory codes used in different countries are listed in this paper. The paper critically examines these publications and possible shortcomings. Development of a globally valid standard for electrical safety which integrates the best of the various standards is hypothesized and championed here. The paper recommends combining the various electrical standards into a holistic version of a global electrical safety standard for use in your maintenance and electrical safe work practice policies and procedures.