Instructed Person in Electrical Safety EuP) – Responsibilities, Limitations, and Legal Classification

  • May 7, 2026
  • Tobias Schlereth

In many companies, the organization of electrical engineering work has evolved over time and is often inadequately structured. At the same time, requirements are increasing due to regulatory standards, growing automation, and the ever-increasing technical complexity of systems. In this context, it becomes clear that electrical engineering qualifications cannot be viewed in isolation but are always part of a broader organizational structure.

This blog series addresses precisely this issue and examines the levels of electrical engineering qualifications within a company in terms of their practical implications for organization, safety, and accountability.

The focus is on three operational qualification levels:

In addition, the role of the qualified electrician (VEFK) must be taken into account. This individual bears overall technical and organizational responsibility for the safe operation of electrical systems and ensures that qualifications, duties, and responsibilities within the company are systematically aligned.

These qualification levels are classified based on clearly defined legal and regulatory requirements.

The following are particularly important:

  • the Occupational Safety and Health Act
  • DGUV Regulation 3
  • the Industrial Safety Regulation
  • DIN VDE 0105-100

These regulations require that work on or in the vicinity of electrical installations may only be performed by suitable and appropriately qualified personnel. As a result, qualification levels become a key element of legally compliant organization.

Der vorliegende Beitrag fokussiert auf die Elektrotechnisch unterwiesene Person (EuP) als Einstieg in das Thema. Die weiteren Qualifikationsstufen werden in den folgenden Beiträgen vertieft.

Why is the topic of EuP relevant right now?

The relevance of EuP stems from structural changes in industrial practice. The growing shortage of skilled workers in the electrical engineering sector means that not all tasks can be performed by licensed electricians. At the same time, the number of electrical engineering-related tasks is increasing in nearly all areas of work.

 

As a result, employees without electrical training are increasingly taking on tasks related to electrical systems. This applies in particular to operating procedures, simple maintenance tasks, and support work.

 

This creates a tension between:

 

  • operational efficiency
  • legal certainty
  • actual qualifications

Without a clear structure, there is a risk that activities will expand unchecked and that employees will take on tasks for which they are not sufficiently qualified. The Instructed Person in Electrical Safety EuP) is an established tool for managing this situation—yet in practice, it is often implemented inadequately or misinterpreted.

What is an Instructed Person in Electrical Safety EuP)?

An Instructed Person in Electrical Safety EuP) is an individual without specialized training in electrical engineering who has been instructed by a qualified electrician on the hazards of electrical current, necessary safety precautions, and safe conduct in the workplace.

 

This definition is based in particular on DGUV Regulation 3 and DIN VDE 0105-100. According to these standards, an EuP is a person who has been instructed on the tasks assigned to them and the associated hazards and—where necessary—has received training.

 

The key distinction is:

The EuP does not conduct its own electrical engineering assessment and assumes no technical responsibility.

She operates within a clearly defined framework established by a licensed electrician.

What activities are permitted for an EuP?

The permissible activities of an EuP are not determined on a blanket basis but must be Hazard Assessment from the Hazard Assessment . It is essential that tasks be clearly defined, limited, and documented in a traceable manner.

Typical duties include:

  • Operating electrical equipment
  • Performing simple, routine tasks
  • Assistance with maintenance work
  • Visual inspections for visible defects
  • Replacement of equipment under safe conditions

The following applies:

Die EuP arbeitet stets unter Leitung und Aufsicht einer Elektrofachkraft (EFK).

The responsibility for selecting the activities, assessing the risks, and determining protective measures does not lie with the EuP.

What are the limitations of EuP?

A common problem is the implicit assumption that EuPs possess higher-level qualifications. This leads to a gradual expansion of their responsibilities without any corresponding adjustment to their qualifications or organizational framework.

This tension becomes particularly acute among experienced employees who have developed practical expertise in working with equipment over the years. In the day-to-day reality of the workplace, this often leads to an informal expansion of their responsibilities: their duties are expanded because “they know how to do it” or “have always done it.” Formally, however, their status as a Person Trained in Electrical Safety (EuP) remains unchanged.

In diesem Zusammenhang verschwimmt die Abgrenzung zur Elektrofachkraft für festgelegte Tätigkeiten (EFKffT). Während die EFKffT auf Basis einer strukturierten Zusatzqualifikation und eines klar definierten Tätigkeitsbereichs eigenverantwortlich innerhalb dieser festgelegten Tätigkeiten arbeiten darf, fehlt der EuP genau diese formale und normative Grundlage. Die Übertragung vergleichbarer Aufgaben an eine EuP stellt daher eine unzulässige Gleichsetzung zweier unterschiedlicher Qualifikationsniveaus dar.

This development is often not consciously driven, but rather emerges gradually from the day-to-day work routine:

  • Responsibilities are expanded based on experience
  • Boundaries are not clearly communicated or enforced
  • Qualifications are not updated or formalized

The result is a growing gap between actual duties and existing qualifications. This not only leads to safety risks but also to significant legal uncertainties regarding responsibility and liability.

It is precisely at this juncture that the need for a clear organizational distinction between EuP and EFKffT becomes apparent, as well as the need to consistently adapt qualifications in response to changing job profiles. This is because the EFKffT is deployed on the basis of a structured qualification process involving both theoretical and practical certification (see DGUV G 303 001).

How is the use of EuPs organized within the company?

The use of EuPs is not a standalone training measure, but rather an organizational task. The starting point is the Hazard Assessment, which is used to determine which activities may be performed by appropriately trained personnel.

Based on this, tasks must be clearly defined and delineated. Training must be tailored to specific tasks and documented in a transparent manner.

 

A key aspect is establishing management and supervision. There must be clear guidelines regarding which qualified electrician is responsible and how supervision is carried out in day-to-day operations.

 

In addition, regular inspections are required, particularly in the following cases:

 

  • Changes to equipment
  • new work processes
  • expanded responsibilities

In practice, it is often the case that this systematic link is missing. Responsibilities remain unclear, job duties are not clearly defined, and qualifications are not regularly updated.

Common mistakes when dealing with EuP

Recurring errors can be observed in many companies:

 

  • Limiting it to a one-time training session without organizational involvement
  • unclear or missing definition of responsibilities
  • insufficient documentation of qualifications
  • Blurring of roles between EuP and licensed electrician
  • failure to adapt to technical changes

These errors not only lead to operational uncertainties, but can also have significant legal consequences in the event of damage.

Conclusion

The Instructed Person in Electrical Safety EuP) is a clearly defined component of workplace electrical safety and an essential tool for organizing electrical work.

 

Their strength lies in their ability to handle simple tasks in a structured manner within a clear framework. Risks arise when this framework is not adhered to, particularly in cases of unclear task allocation, a lack of organizational integration, or insufficient qualifications.

 

The EuP serves as a prime example of how electrical safety is not merely a matter of technical expertise, but depends largely on the quality of the organization.

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