DECREE

On Electrical Safety

THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;
At the proposal of the Minister of Industry,

DECREE

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. This Decree stipulates electrical safety in production, transmission, distribution, and use of electricity to ensure safety for people, electrical equipment, and electrical works.

Article 2. This Decree applies to organizations and individuals engaged in power activities, electricity users, manufacturers of electrical equipment, and other related organizations and individuals within the territory of Vietnam. In cases where international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has acceded provide different provisions, such treaties shall apply.

Article 3. In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Power Grid includes electric wires, transformer stations, and other associated facilities and equipment interconnected to carry out the process of transmitting and distributing electricity.

2. High Voltage Electricity is electricity with a voltage of 1,000 V or higher.

3. Low Voltage Electricity is electricity with a voltage below 1,000 V.

4. Electrical Equipment refers to machines used for producing, transforming, distributing, measuring, protecting, and consuming electric energy.

5. Protective Device is an automatic device that cuts off the electric circuit during abnormal operation conditions.

6. Electric Tools are handheld tools that use electricity.

7. Electrical Safety Warning Signs are signs with text and symbols indicating the presence of voltage placed on the architectural structures of electrical works or electrical equipment and tools to warn people to avoid danger caused by electricity when operating, working, or passing near these devices.

Grounding Connection is the connection of metal parts of electrical equipment, metal parts of other equipment, or metal structures to a grounding installation.

Ungrounded Connection is the connection of metal parts that normally do not have a function to conduct electricity in electrical equipment, metal parts of other equipment, or metal structures to the neutral wire directly connected to the ground of the power source.

10. Small Hydroelectric Generator is a water-driven generator with a capacity of up to 1,000 W per unit.

11. Using Electricity as Direct Protection Means involves connecting a power source with appropriate voltage directly to a fence, barrier, or shield surrounding the protected area or object (hereinafter referred to as protective fence). When an individual intentionally intrudes into the protected area or object and comes into direct contact with the protective fence, they will be shocked, while the protection system will issue an alarm signal to alert the area's security personnel.

Article 4. The design, manufacture of electrical equipment, and construction of electrical works must comply with Vietnamese Regulations, Standards, the provisions of this Decree, or recognized international standards by competent Vietnamese authorities and must ensure the following safety requirements: electrical safety; architectural safety; safety in using primary energy sources (water, coal, oil, natural gas, and other forms of energy); fire prevention and explosion safety; ecological and occupational health safety.

Article 5.

1. Electrical equipment and electric tools upon leaving the factory must have a quality certificate or a registered quality label in accordance with legal standards and must come with an instruction manual detailing technical specifications, features, effects, and other precautions to guide consumers in preventing electrical accidents and incidents.

2. Electrical works can only be put into use after being tested, calibrated, and accepted as meeting the quality safety standards.

Chapter II

SAFETY IN ELECTRICAL PRODUCTION

Article 6. Power plants and power generation stations must be strictly protected, surrounded by fences, electrical safety warning signs, and fire prevention and extinguishing warning signs as prescribed; unauthorized persons are not allowed to enter power plants or power generation stations.

Article 7. Rooms housing electrical equipment must ensure fire and explosion safety; have warning signs in hazardous areas; have adequate lighting systems; have ventilation systems to cool equipment, with air vents protected against animal intrusion, minimizing negative environmental impacts (dust, humidity, chemicals); and have escape routes in case of fire or explosion incidents.

Article 8. For electrical equipment installed in the same room, depending on their technical characteristics and safety requirements, protective grids, partitions, and safety warning signs must be installed. The distance from the protective grid or partition to the live parts of the equipment must not be less than the distance specified in the Electrical Installation Regulations.

Article 9. For rotating electrical machines and cable junction boxes, covers must be securely fastened and sealed to prevent dust, steam, and chemical substances from entering; brushes, fans, and cooling systems must be covered or protected by grilles.

Article 10. In areas with flammable and explosive materials, the electrical system must be designed and installed according to fire and explosion safety regulations; only specialized fire and explosion prevention equipment may be used.

Article 11. Electrical cable systems in power plants and power generation stations must comply with the following safety regulations:

1. Electrical cables must be arranged orderly by type, technical performance, and voltage level and placed on designated supports as prescribed. Cables passing through high-temperature areas must be insulated and run through protective conduits.

2. Cable tunnels and trenches must have tightly sealed lids, good drainage, and be kept clean and dry. Water, oil, chemicals, and debris must not accumulate in cable tunnels and trenches.

Additionally, cable tunnels must have fire barriers to prevent the spread of fires; automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems and lighting systems using safe voltages in compliance with current standards and regulations must be installed.

Article 12. Lightning protection and grounding systems in power plants, power generation stations, and distribution substations must be installed according to design specifications and inspected and regularly checked in accordance with the "Vietnamese Standard - Grounding and Ungrounded Connections of Electrical Equipment."

Article 13. For small hydroelectric generators and mobile generators, safety regulations during use as prescribed by the manufacturer must be followed, and insulation checks must be conducted regularly; the capacity of electrical equipment and wiring must match the machine's capacity but must not be less than 2.5 mm².²Bare wires must not be used as electrical conductors.

Chapter III

SAFETY IN ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION

Article 14.

1. The owner of the power grid project is responsible for:

a) Installing electrical safety warning signs at substations and utility poles;

b) Paint and install signal lights at poles with special heights in accordance with the laws on the protection of high-voltage power transmission networks.

2. At the intersections between overhead high-voltage power lines and underground power cables with railways, roads, inland waterways, the placement and management of warning signs and no-crossing signs for transport vehicles shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Transport. The investor of the subsequent construction project must bear the costs for placing these signs.

Article 15. When handing over the power transmission network project, the investor of the project must hand over to the power transmission network operation management unit all technical documents, acceptance certificates, and documents related to compensation and land clearance in accordance with the law.

Article 16. The power transmission network operation management unit must regularly organize inspections, technical maintenance, and major repairs of the power transmission network to ensure safe operation in accordance with the regulations; continuously monitor, detect, and prevent violations of this Decree and the laws on the protection of high-voltage power transmission network safety.

Article 17. When repairing and maintaining power transmission network projects, the power transmission network operation management unit and the working units must be responsible for fully and correctly implementing the safety measures as stipulated in the Technical Safety Regulations for Electricity.

Article 18. High-voltage lines crossing residential buildings or structures where people live or work permanently must comply with the safety standards and distances prescribed by the laws on the protection of high-voltage power transmission network safety; support poles must use steel poles or reinforced concrete poles; electrical conductors are not allowed to have joints, except for conductors with a cross-sectional area of 240 mm² or more, which may have up to one joint per phase. The power transmission network operation management unit shall not operate these lines beyond their capacity.² Underground power cables running through the ground, located within the structures of other works, or shared with communication lines, must comply with the safety distances prescribed by the laws on the protection of high-voltage power transmission network safety, the provisions of the Electrical Equipment Installation Regulations, and other relevant legal provisions.

Article 19. AN ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Chapter IV

MỤC 1: USE OF ELECTRICITY IN PRODUCTION

Section 1: USE OF ELECTRICITY IN PRODUCTION

Article 20. Organizations and individuals using electricity for production must comply with the provisions of the Vietnamese Standards on electrical safety, Electrical Equipment Installation Regulations, Technical Safety Regulations for Electricity currently in force, and the provisions of this Decree.

Article 21. Lightning protection systems, grounding systems, and protective neutral systems must be inspected upon acceptance, periodically inspected, and inspected under abnormal conditions according to the contents stipulated in the "Vietnamese Standard - Grounding and Neutral Connection Regulations for Electrical Equipment." Diagrams of these systems must correspond to reality and must be kept together with inspection records throughout the operational period.

Article 22. Power stations, high-voltage electrical equipment, and internal high-voltage lines must be installed and operated in accordance with the provisions of Chapters II and III of this Decree. In cases where the owner does not have the necessary conditions to ensure the management, operation, testing, and calibration of these station equipment and lines in accordance with the regulations, they must enter into contracts with organizations and individuals who have the necessary conditions to perform these tasks. The contract must include clauses specifying responsibilities and ensuring safe, reasonable, and convenient power supply and consumption operations for both the power supplier and consumer.

Article 23.

1. Electrical equipment must comply with the provisions of the "Vietnamese Standard - Low Voltage Electrical Equipment - General Requirements for Protection Against Electric Shock" and the "Vietnamese Standard - Grounding and Neutral Connection Regulations for Electrical Equipment," ensuring:

a) Protection against electric shock from direct contact with operating voltage: live parts such as busbars, contacts of electrical appliances, terminal posts, connection points, and wire cores must meet the requirements for protective enclosures, safe distances, and be arranged and shielded to prevent accidental contact between operators or passersby and these live parts.

b) Protection against electric shock from indirect contact with operating voltage: low-voltage electrical equipment must meet the requirements for insulation, grounding, and protective neutral connections to prevent dangerous touch voltages.

2. Electrical conductors and wires must be designed and installed to ensure a clear workspace, avoiding mechanical and chemical impacts that could cause damage. Metal structures of workshops, machines, and metal pipes should not be used as working neutral conductors, except for those specifically designed and approved.

3. Electrical systems in areas containing flammable and explosive materials must be designed, installed, and used in accordance with Article 10 of this Decree.

Article 24. For electrical equipment used in mineral extraction, portable tools, mobile electrical equipment, welding machines, electrolysis, and electroplating, the relevant technical standards and safety regulations must be followed.

PART 2: ELECTRICITY USE IN DOMESTIC AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Article 25. Electrical equipment used in offices, living areas, and services must ensure a total power consumption that matches the design capacity and guarantee insulation durability according to current technical standards. Power supply cables for motors, cooking, heating, air conditioning... must have appropriate and separate protective devices from those supplying lighting.

Article 26.

1. Do not place electrical equipment that generates heat near flammable objects.

2. For elevators:

a) The electrical cable used for elevators must be fire-resistant type;

b) Elevators used in buildings with more than five floors and regularly housing over 200 people must have a backup power source that automatically reconnects when the main power fails;

c) Electrical equipment of elevators must be inspected and maintained in accordance with current regulations.

Article 27. When leaving the office or workplace, electricity to all electrical devices must be turned off. For devices that need to remain powered continuously, appropriate safety measures must be implemented.

Article 28. Agencies, units, and households using electricity must be responsible for organizing inspections of their electrical systems to promptly identify and prevent accidents and electrical incidents.

Article 29.

1. Low-voltage power grids can only be constructed after the design has been approved by the competent authority.

2. Branch power lines leading to houses and structures must meet safety requirements and not obstruct traffic, ambulance, or firefighting operations.

Article 30.

1. In a three-phase four-wire circuit, switching devices (circuit breakers, switches, fuses) shall not be installed on the neutral wire.

2. In a single-phase two-wire circuit, fuses and switches must be placed on the phase wire (live wire). It is prohibited to install fuses and switches on the neutral wire. Installation of two-pole circuit breakers and switches is encouraged to simultaneously cut both wires.

Article 31.

1. The cross-sectional area of power cables must match the electrical load.

2. Installation and use of electrical equipment in buildings must comply with current safety regulations.

Article 32. Strictly prohibit the following violations of electrical safety regulations:

1. Using electricity as a means to protect personal property or for other purposes that endanger people, animals, the environment, causing damage to state assets, citizens' property such as: theft prevention, mouse traps, fishing, crop protection.

2. Using electrical equipment that does not meet safety standards and conditions.

3. Pulling electrical wiring that does not meet safety conditions such as: using bare wires as indoor electrical conductors; taking single-phase power with one conductor while connecting the neutral wire to wells, ponds, or water pipes.

4. People without the responsibility to climb power poles or enter substations.

5. Actions that may cause accidents to people and livestock such as: hanging clothes or items on power lines; flying kites, playing soccer near power lines.

6. Actions that may damage power grid facilities such as: shooting birds on power lines, substations; throwing or dropping any object onto power lines, substations; removing guy wires, grounding wires from power poles; digging around power pole foundations causing subsidence; using power poles for building houses, tents, shops, tying cattle or other livestock.

7. Approaching broken power lines or fallen power poles before receiving notification that the power has been disconnected.

8. Planting trees or allowing tree branches, vines to violate safe distances from power lines, substations; allowing trees to fall onto power lines during clearance operations.

PART 3: USE OF ELECTRICITY AS A DIRECT PROTECTIVE MEANS

Article 33. The areas and subjects permitted to use electricity as a direct protective means are important State facilities concerning national security, diplomacy, economy, society, and national defense.

Article 34. Organizations using electricity as a protective means must obtain permission from the competent state authority according to the following provisions:

1. The Minister of Public Security shall grant permission to use electricity as a direct protective means for areas or objects within the field of national security.

2. The Minister of National Defense shall grant permission to use electricity as a direct protective means for areas or objects within the field of national defense.

3. The Minister, Head of a ministry-level agency, agency under the Government, Chairman of provincial people's committees, and municipal people's committees directly under the central government shall grant permission to use electricity as a direct protective means for areas or objects under their management according to the guidance of the Ministry of Industry.

Article 35. Protective fences must be designed and installed to avoid any accidental contact with people and livestock; they must have warning signs; they should not affect the operation of the electrical system; they should not pose a danger to adjacent areas and living environments. Managers and users of this protection system must be trained and instructed on specialized knowledge and skills.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

PART I: STATE MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Article 36. Contents of state management over technical electrical safety include:

1. Issuing, directing, and organizing the implementation of legal normative documents on electrical safety in fields such as design, manufacture, construction, production, transmission, distribution, and use of electricity.

2. Inspecting and supervising compliance with regulations, standards, procedures, and rules on electrical safety by organizations and individuals involved in power activities and electricity usage.

3. Investigating, inspecting, resolving complaints and denunciations, and handling violations of electrical safety.

4. Training and enhancing professional knowledge and skills for individuals related to electrical safety.

5. Popularizing, promoting, and educating about laws on safety in power activities, electricity usage, and protecting safe electrical works.

6. Organizing and directing scientific research and application of technological progress in the field of electrical safety.

7. Rewarding and penalizing violations in the implementation of electrical safety.

Article 37.

1. The Government shall uniformly manage state affairs regarding electrical safety throughout the country.

2. The Ministry of Industry shall be responsible before the Government for implementing state management over electrical safety, with the tasks:

a) Building, perfecting, and submitting to the competent authority for issuance of national standards and regulations on electrical safety, issuing relevant industry standards;

b) Directing and organizing the implementation of current electrical safety regulations and standards;

c) Coordinating state management activities over electrical safety among ministries, sectors, and localities;

d) Uniformly managing registration and quality inspection of electrical equipment, tools, and products meeting or conforming to safety standards;

đ) Coordinating with related sectors to specify detailed standards and techniques for using electricity as a direct protective means.

3. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall have the tasks:

a) Uniformly managing research and application of science and technology in electrical safety;

b) Coordinating with the Ministry of Industry to build, perfect, issue, and uniformly manage the Vietnamese Standard System on electrical safety.

4. The Ministry of Construction shall have the tasks:

a) Issuing standards and regulations on the installation of power networks in construction projects to ensure uniform application throughout the country;

b) Issuing standards and regulations for safe grounding systems in residential buildings and civil structures.

5. Ministries, ministry-level agencies, and agencies under the Government shall, within their functions, tasks, and authorities, be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Industry in state management over electrical safety.

6. Provincial People's Committees and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Industry in state management over electrical safety:

a) Implementing state management over electrical safety within their jurisdictions according to the guidance and directives of the Ministry of Industry and relevant ministries;

b) Establishing safety targets for electricity included in local socio-economic development plans and budgets.

7. Electricity inspectors shall be responsible for investigating and inspecting electrical safety for organizations and individuals in power activities and electricity usage; detecting and handling violations according to the law.

PART II: RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN ELECTRICITY ACTIVITIES AND THE USE OF ELECTRICITY FOR PRODUCTION

Article 38. Organizations and individuals participating in activities related to construction, production, transmission, distribution, business operations, and the use of electricity for production shall have the responsibility to:

1. Equip themselves with all necessary documentation on regulations, safety standards for electricity, compile and issue guidelines, and organize the implementation of procedures, rules, and internal regulations on electricity safety applicable within their agencies and enterprises based on current national standards and legal regulations., Electrical equipment must have files, histories, and relevant technical documents, be strictly managed, and updated fully. At operational positions, there must be complete operation procedures for equipment, fault handling procedures, safety procedures for related specialties, electrical grid diagrams, fire prevention and firefighting internal regulations, operation logbooks, personal protective equipment, and other tools and means as prescribed.

3. Staff members assigned to work involving electricity must meet the following conditions:

a) Be of sufficient age as stipulated by law, be healthy, and not suffer from neurological or cardiovascular diseases;

b) Receive specialized and technical training according to industry requirements;

c) Undergo safety training, pass examinations, and obtain a safety card as prescribed by current regulations.

4. Strictly implement state policies on labor protection, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of workers. They must ensure working conditions, personal protective equipment for workers to safely interact with electricity.

5. Implement inspection systems for compliance with procedures and regulations on electricity safety; promptly identify and rectify deficiencies and existing issues within the unit.

6. Properly carry out maintenance, upkeep, quality improvement measures, and ensure safe operating conditions for equipment.

7. Organize research and application of new technological advancements to production to enhance the safety factor of the production process.

8. When accidents occur, immediately apply necessary measures to rescue victims, minimize damage, and organize investigations to analyze causes, conduct reviews, determine responsibilities, identify subjective reasons, develop preventive plans to prevent recurrence of accidents.

9. Carry out statistical tracking and reporting on accidents as prescribed.

10. Organize or participate in widespread publicity and dissemination regarding electricity safety work.

PART III: REWARDS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS

Organizations and individuals who achieve outstanding results in electricity safety work shall be rewarded according to the provisions of the law.

Article 39. Organizations and individuals who violate regulations on electricity safety, depending on the form and degree of violation, will be subject to disciplinary action, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution. In cases causing material losses, compensation must be provided according to the law.

Article 40. Organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing the provisions of this Decree and other legal regulations concerning electricity safety.

Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 41. The Minister of Industry, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall, based on their functions and tasks, be responsible for guiding and organizing the implementation of this Decree.

Article 42. This Decree takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Previous provisions that conflict with this Decree are hereby abolished.

Article 43. The Minister of Industry, the Ministers, the Heads of agencies at the ministerial level, the Heads of government agencies, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for guiding and organizing the implementation of this Decree in accordance with their respective functions and tasks.