Electrical safety in the workplace is a matter of both compliance and genuine responsibility. The Finnish Electrical safety standard SFS 6002 defines safety requirements for electrical work, provides a clear framework for employers, supervisors, and electrical professionals.
However, even in organizations that take safety seriously, recurring mistakes can lead to dangerous situations or violations of the standard.
Below are five common SFS 6002 violations—and practical ways to avoid them.
1. Inadequate Electrical safety SFS 6002 training and lack of competence verification
According to SFS 6002, everyone who works inside electrical facilities or in their immediate vicinity, performs or supervises electrical- on non electrical work must have appropriate competence and up-to-date training. In practice, many companies rely on outdated certificates or assume that years of experience substitute for formal refresher courses.
Why this is a problem:
Outdated knowledge often leads to unsafe practices—especially when procedures, protective equipment, or regulations have changed since the last training.
How to avoid it:
- Maintain a digital register of employees’ SFS 6002 training and refresher course dates.
- Require periodic (e.g.,minimum every 5 years) retraining for all staff involved in electrical work.Person in charge of electrical safety needs to keep personnel updated about significant safety regulation changes along the way.
- Include supervisors and contractors in the training plan.
Source: Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) guidance on electrical safety training requirements (Tukes.fi, “Sähköturvallisuuskoulutus”).
2. Poor planning and risk assessment before starting work
SFS 6002 emphasizes that no electrical work should start without a proper risk assessment and a plan covering hazards, protective measures, and responsible persons.
However, in many companies, this step is treated as a formality—or skipped entirely for routine tasks. Routine can be dangerous as it can lead into compliance: “No worries, nothing has ever happened with this task”
According to ESP (electrically skilled professionals’) experience, failure to follow safety procedures is often due to hurry. Hurry is also seen as one of the biggest electrical safety risks. The causes of hurry are multifold but most often seen to be related to organizational problems, e.g. the planning and execution of tasks. Another electrical safety problem often identified was intentional and unintentional human failure.
Why this is a problem:
Even small maintenance jobs can pose serious risks if the power supply isn’t correctly isolated, grounding isn’t verified, or temporary changes are made to installations.
How to avoid it:
- Make risk assessment a mandatory part of the job permit process.
- Do NOT ASSUME that everything is ok, VERIFY!
- Use standardized checklists for each work type (maintenance, repair, new installation).
- Encourage workers to stop and reassess if the situation on-site changes.
Source: SFS 6002:2025:SV – “Work planning and risk assessment requirements.”
Tukes Publications Series, Vol 3/2010
3. Working under voltage without valid justification or protective measures
SFS 6002 standard allows live working only in exceptional cases—for example, when it’s technically or practically not possible to disconnect the power and safety can be fully ensured.
Nevertheless, many violations occur when live work is performed out of convenience or to save time.
Why this is a problem:
Working on energized circuits multiplies the risk of electric shock, arc flash, and burns. Most of these incidents could be avoided by proper de-energization or simply staying clear from energized systems. In case de-energizing the system will cause significant disruption to production, consider possibility to perform this task after regular working hours.
How to avoid it:
- Enforce a “no live work” policy except with written authorization and a clear technical justification.
- Ensure all protective equipment (insulated tools, gloves, arc-rated clothing) is certified and regularly inspected.
- Train employees on safe work zones and approach distances.
Source: Tukes Safety Bulletin 2/2023 – “Common causes of electrical accidents in workplaces.”
4. Inadequate supervision and unclear roles
Electrical work must always have a designated person in charge, responsible for ensuring compliance with SFS 6002.
However, in many organizations, this role is not clearly defined—or supervisors lack sufficient technical knowledge to enforce the rules.
Why this is a problem:
Without clear accountability, important safety measures may be skipped, and no one takes responsibility for risk management.
How to avoid it:
- Appoint a named “person responsible for electrical safety” (as required by SFS 6002 §4.3).
- Define their duties in writing and include them in the company’s safety management system.
- Provide leadership training focused on safety culture and communication.
Source: Finnish Standard Association (SFS) publication “Electrical Safety Management in Practice,”
5. Neglecting inspections, documentation, and maintenance records
Regular testing and documentation are key elements of SFS 6002 compliance.
Nevertheless, many companies either keep incomplete maintenance logs or fail to record safety inspections after work is completed.
Why this is a problem:
Lack of documentation makes it impossible to prove compliance or identify recurring faults—and may result in liability issues after accidents.
How to avoid it:
- Create a unified digital log for all inspections, measurements, and repairs.
- Require photos and technician signatures for every completed task.
- Perform periodic internal audits to verify data accuracy.
Source: SFS 6002 Annex X – “Documentation and verification of electrical work.”
Summary
Compliance with SFS 6002 is not just about passing audits—it’s about creating a culture where safety is an integral part of daily work.
By systematically addressing these common problem areas—training, planning, live work, supervision, and documentation—companies can significantly reduce the risk of electrical accidents and legal consequences.
Electrical safety begins with awareness, but it lasts through discipline.
Want to read more? Check our sfs 6002 Electrical Safety Guide!
Enroll to our SFS6002 Electrical Safety Training eLearning. This elearning module is also available in Polish and Finnish languages.
