Why make your laboratory safe and compliant? What regulations govern electrical tests? And what can SEPATEC do for you?

Why make the laboratory safe and compliant?

In recent years, law enforcement has exponentially increased controls in the sector, with hundreds of laboratories closed , and equipment seized for hundreds of millions of euros. Certainly, the media coverage given by newspapers and television broadcasts has further put the entire sector under scrutiny.

Among the various irregularities, the most punished is the failure to comply with the rules regarding safety in the workplace (Legislative Decree 81/08).

Furthermore, irregularities have emerged due to the fact that the laboratories use devices with an average lifespan of more than 7 years, resulting in electrical, structural and functional degradation .

Over time, laboratory equipment is subject to to the wear of the components , with the consequent increase in electrical safety risks, which are even higher on instruments that use aggressive chemical reagents. For example, if the protective earth connection is interrupted, this cannot be perceived by the operator, except in the case of electrocution. Correct use of the device, combined with periodic maintenance and checks, It is essential in order to find and resolve all electrical hazards to which it may be subjected, directly or indirectly.

Checking the functionality of the equipment present in the laboratory allows operators to work safely and avoid risks while using the equipment.

What regulations govern electrical inspections?

The electrical check it is necessary (And mandatory pursuant to Legislative Decree 81/08 – consolidated law on safety at work), as the devices concerned They are used by laboratory personnel and are, to all intents and purposes, work tools ; therefore the law obliges the employer (whether the owner of the facility or the healthcare manager) to periodically schedule such checks.

The norm IEC 66-5 / IEC EN 61010-1 (Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – Part 1: General requirements) establishes the procedures for carrying out periodic checks on laboratory instruments, in order to guarantee total safety for the operator while using the equipment, and to reduce faults.

The norm CEI 62-122 , instead, determines the interval of periodicity of the checks, following the obligations relating to more general safety checks. This regulation requires that an electrical check be carried out on the appliances every 2 years at the latest. .

If you do not comply with these conditions, in the event of checks by the relevant authorities you may incur penalties, ranging from arrest to financial fines .