Electrical and Mechanical
Authorization

Authorizations are granted to a qualified person to carry out a specific task or activity, such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic work. They allow company employees to safely intervene on or near installations.
Authorizations are issued by the employer, under their responsibility, if they consider that the person has the skills and knowledge required to perform the task safely and effectively.
For certain authorizations, such as electrical authorizations, it is necessary to attend training, be regularly assessed, and have the associated medical certificate in order to be qualified.
Authorization is not directly linked to hierarchical position or job classification. It is formalized by a document drawn up by the employer and signed by both the employer and the authorized person.

Its issuance does not release the employer from responsibility.
Similarly, authorizations does not, by itself, authorize a holder to independently perform the operations for which they are authorized.
They must also be designated by their employer to carry out those operations.

An employer hiring a temporary worker must ensure that the worker has completed preparatory training for authorization in line with the operations to be carried out.
It is the employer who grants the authorization, not the temporary employment agency.

Before assigning an employee to their workstation, the employer must also verify their medical fitness with the occupational health physician in order to grant authorization.
The authorization certificate is strictly personal and cannot be transferred to third parties. The holder must be able to present it in case of inspection. In case of loss, it must be reported immediately to the employer. Authorization alone does not authorize its holder to independently perform the accredited operations; they must also be designated by their line manager for execution.

The requirements for issuing authorizations are at least specified by decree but may be left to the employer’s initiative, who ultimately holds responsibility for their staff.
Indeed, authorizations are often required for jobs or activities that pose risks to the health and safety of workers or to environmental protection.
They can also be an essential means of ensuring quality and compliance in professional activities.
Although sometimes seen as a constraint, authorizations aim to generate positive impacts on workers, employers, clients, and the community as a whole.

Electrical authorizations recognizes a person’s ability to safely perform electrical or non-electrical tasks on or near an electrical installation.
This may include access to electrical rooms or panels, performing, supervising, or directing electrical operations such as lockout/tagout, measurements, or electrical inspections.

Depending on the country, the applicable framework is:

• France: NFC 18-510, UTE C18-510
• United States: NFPA 70E and OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S (electrical safety)
• United Kingdom: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR) and BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)
• Germany: DIN VDE 0105-100 and DGUV Vorschrift 3

Operations on electrical works and installations and in an electrical environment – Prevention of electrical risk.

All these standards emphasize the same core principles: prior training in electrical hazards, theoretical and practical instruction, regular refresher training, and systematic employer verification of competence. Training organizations and accredited providers can deliver courses, but only the employer can issue the authorization.
Training alone is not sufficient. A person’s skills and knowledge must be regularly assessed by the employer before authorization is granted, typically every year.

Mechanical risks arise when a moving part can come into contact with the human body. This context applies primarily to industrial equipment and machines, but also to tools, fluids, or material projections.

To acquire the skills and knowledge required to perform mechanical tasks safely and effectively, mechanical authorization remains necessary, even if regulations in this area are not as clear as for electrical authorization.

The regulatory framework differs from one country to another:

• France: company-specific safety prescriptions such as Recueil de Prescriptions au Personnel (RPP), often used in the energy sector
• United States: OSHA standards, particularly those related to machinery and general industry (29 CFR 1910)
• United Kingdom: PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998)
• Germany: Betriebssicherheitsverordnung (BetrSichV) and DGUV safety rules

Regardless of the reference standard, the purpose of mechanical authorization is always the same: ensuring that workers have the knowledge and competence to perform operations safely and in compliance with local requirements.