Testing & Tagging Testing and Tagging your electrical appliances to make you compliant and your staff safe

Overview

As all businesses are aware of their responsibility under the current WHS legislation, portable appliance testing & tagging is one part of ensuring that you keep your employees and visitors safe from hazardous situations when on your premises or work site.

Information

FAQs

• Can items be repaired that have failed?

  In some cases yes. This is generally replacement of the lead or plug. After repairs have been carried out a retest of the item is conducted to ensure compliancy.

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• How frequently does the inspection and testing need to be carried out?

  Table 4 that can be found in Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760:2010 recommends various retest timeframes which is dependent on locations and or environments in which the equipment resides in

  Testing of items varies from: three monthly, six monthly, yearly, two yearly or five yearly testing intervals

  If the workplace has a workshop or manufacturing area or is considered a hostile environment testing is generally carried out on a 6 monthly or yearly basis.

  It's important your service provider has the expertise to competently advise the client about the retest time frames.

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• If my test tag is out of date what is the allowable tolerance?

  AS/NZS 3760:2010 - 2.1. (a) Indicates a tolerance of two weeks past the item's retest due date.

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• What is electrical portable appliance testing and tagging?

  Portable appliance testing and tagging is electrical safety inspection and testing of 240v (single phase) or 415v (3 phase) of all plug-in electrical items. Under current WHS legislation and Australian Standards AS/NZS 3760:2010 states that all workplaces across Australia have a duty of care to employees & visitors and must be able to demonstrate safe work systems, including electrical safety.

  This applies to all portable or corded appliances that you may have in your workplace

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• What testing and tagging records do I need to keep?

  Under current AS/NZS 3760:2010, to remain compliant you are required to retain the history of tests carried out in your workplace. Just because the item has a test tag attached to the lead, you must still have the relevant records indicating date of test, company or technician that carried out the testing

  This also includes a test tag attached to each item which indicates the date, tester's name and a test status (pass/fail).

  A register should also include all failed items and action taken.

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• Who can perform testing and tagging at my workplace?

  If you are a business or employer, you must make sure that electrical equipment is regularly inspected and tested by a competent person. This can vary with different states requirements, but under the Aust Standards it must be one of the following

  A competent person is either;

  • Someone who has acquired - through training, qualification or experience - the knowledge and skills to carry out inspections and testing of electrical equipment.
  • A licensed electrician

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