NF C 18-510 and electrical authorisation: what the regulations require of employers

Electrical risk remains one of the leading causes of serious workplace accidents, even during seemingly simple operations. The NF C 18-510 standard, the French reference for electrical risk prevention, sets out the conditions under which an employee may work on or near an electrical installation.

An obligation set out in the Labour Code

French labour law requires employers to authorise electrical work or operations only for employees who are certified, trained and medically fit. This certification, issued by the employer, is based on the requirements of the NF C 18-510 standard and confirms that the employee has received training suited to the nature of their work.

Authorisation levels tailored to each role

The standard sets out several levels depending on the voltage domain and the employee’s role: a non-electrician working near an installation, an electrician in charge of works or operations, and a person in charge of isolation procedures. Each level corresponds to a precise scope of authorised actions that should never be exceeded.

Training, refreshers and employer responsibility

Authorisation is neither permanent nor automatic: it must be renewed periodically, typically on a recommended cycle of around three years, and systematically reviewed in the event of a change of role, installation or working practice. The employer remains responsible for the validity of the authorisation it issues.

The same rigour, whether in Benin or France

Formally applicable in France, this rigour is just as relevant on industrial sites in Benin, where the electrical risk is identical. IFECARM GROUP trains teams and reviews authorisation procedures, applying the same standards across both sides of its activity.