As long as the manufacturer has tested the device for safety—and as long as you use the device properly and with care—multimeters are generally safe to use.
Two key factors to consider regarding the multimeter’s safety are its CAT rating and intended use. A CAT I multimeter is perfectly safe for tasks that fall within that category, but would be extremely dangerous to use for a CAT IV-type task, for example.
There are also a couple of steps you can take to make the process even safer:
- Read the instructions and any warnings before using the multimeter.
- Make sure not to touch the bare metal ends while using the device.