VOP: Practise as an instructed person
As an instructed person (voldoende onderricht persoon, VOP) you work on or near electrical installations under supervision. Our VOP programme prepares you for the exam with practice questions on basic safety, recognising risks and the right personal protective equipment (PPE).
What is a VOP?
A VOP has received basic instruction in electrical safety and may carry out simple work under the supervision of a skilled person (vakbekwaam persoon, VP). Think of cleaning, assembly or support work near live installations.
What may a VOP do, and what not?
A VOP may NOT carry out electrical work independently. No measuring, no switching, no replacing components. What a VOP may do: be present near installations, do support work under supervision, and recognise danger.
- Allowed: helping with assembly under VP supervision
- Allowed: cleaning work in switch rooms
- Not allowed: operating switches or seals
- Not allowed: opening cabinets or barriers
Why VOP?
Under NEN 3140, only people who have been sufficiently trained and designated by their employer may work on or near electrical installations. VOP is the first step. The employer also makes sure that this knowledge stays up to date.
What does the VOP exam test?
The VOP exam is a theory exam; there is no practical exam at this level. The questions cover:
- Basic electricity: voltage, current and resistance
- Recognising installations: distribution board, fuses and residual current devices
- The five safety rules: the order and meaning of each step
- What you may and may not do: the limits of working under supervision
- Which personal protective equipment to use for which task
- Responding to incidents: reporting, first aid and 112
The most common mistakes in the VOP exam
This is where candidates lose the most marks:
- Mixing up the order of the five safety rules: disconnecting completely (vrijschakelen) always comes first, and earthing only after verifying the absence of voltage
- Thinking you may do more than your authorisation allows: a VOP works under direction or supervision and only does what is in the written designation (aanwijzing) and the work instruction
- Underestimating questions about protective equipment, such as which glove class goes with which voltage
How to practise for the VOP exam
Start with the free 10-question mock exam, with an explanation for every answer. Then work through the theory module by module and finish with timed exam simulations. Give extra practice to the questions on what you may and may not do: it is the most tested and most underestimated part. The official exam is in Dutch, so it helps to know the Dutch terms.