Test and Tagging of Electrical Appliances

[All Safe]

The Occupational Health and Safety Act places a duty of care to provide a safe workplace. Failure to maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition, or to use equipment in accordance with manufacturer's instructions may result in injury or death to yourself, employees, or other parties. To meet the duty of care it is necessary to ensure that risk of injury from electric shock for all people at the workplace is reduced as far as is reasonably practicable. A method of achieving this duty is by testing and tagging electrical equipment, and implementing procedures for use of electrical equipment.



"Portable electrical equipment, including flexible cords need to be regularly inspected for wear and mechanical damage, and periodically tested for earth continuity and insulation resistance. Procedures for testing of electrical leads, tools and equipment and the frequency of these tests can be found in: Joint Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZ 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment"

Energy Safe Victoria, Regular Checking of Electrical Equipment, September 2005

All Safe are Melbourne based electrical testing and tagging specialists, servicing Victoria wide, with a range of Occupational Health and Safety services in accordance with Australian Standards AS3760. Our wide range of services include, portable appliance testing and tagging, fire protection inspection and servicing, indoor workplace environment testing and microwave oven leakage testing . We aim to help our customers manage their occupational health and safety needs by providing a solution which best matches their business.

Phone: (03) 8390 7269

www.allsafett.com.au

[email protected]

[Ashore]

I thought that it's only compulsory for on site electrical gear to be tested and tagged, I suppose a reminder to inspect your leads etc regularly is a good thing but I think this is only posted to get a free ad to sell their service , not what the forum is about
Wonder if they checked first if they could advertise here free
If they havent then their company ethics leave something to be desired , and if so then is this a company you would use

[Termite]

but I think this is only posted to get a free ad to sell their service , not what the forum is about
Wonder if they checked first if they could advertise here free

Started a poll roughly about this subject, was hijacked pretty quickly so I effectively destroyed it, nice to see other people have similar concerns.

[Greg Q]

I can buy all the test tags I want on eBay. (actually, you can.:confused: )

I think you'll find that this is not a site-work focused group. Also, its Sunday-no OHS crap today, thanks.

[ozwinner]

I think youll find the test and tag thing is just an asre covering execise from Workcover or whatever they are called.
ALL meter boxes on site have RCD's, ANY fault with your equipment and they trip.

Al

[DavidG]

Bit rich when you have to get the charger plugpack for your laptop computer tagged.

[Greg Q]

How much do they charge for this "service"?

I had never heard of anything like this before moving here-I always assumed that it was a left-over from the Trades Hall glory days.

[ozwinner]

Too much!!
If you have to have every tool tagged every 3 months it costs a fortune.

Al

["Makin Sawdust"]

As a retired tech I have come across this test & tag garbage! My belief is that the units for testing are grossly overpriced and that the test they perform is utter nonsense, I am probably opening a can of worms here, I have had occassion to check electronic equipment which supposedly failed testing and it exceeded makers specs for leakage etc.. I tested same equipment on a borrowed tester of a different brand & passed with flying colours! The owner of this equipment was of the same opinion as me about the value of such testing and the equipment used but was forced to have the gear due to a government contact's requirements. Guess the price of gear was factored int contract price. Just one of many unneccesary costs we all have to indirectly bear. Cheers, Les.

[ozwinner]

My thoughts are that if you have your leads tested they are good for 3 months.
The very same day of testing you may damage the same lead and it may become dangerous, but it is still within the test.
What rubbish.

This testing thing must have been brought about by some polly buying his son/daughter/cousin a job.

With RCD's on every site you dont need testing.
Al

[redwood]

in the table saw feeding thread i pointed out that occ health is purley driven by public liability and insurance worries by pen pushers who wouldnt know the difference between a band saw and a see saw. common sence isnt a factor. the inspectors know jack schnizen and its the small workshops that seem to cop the wack

[All Safe]

Testing and tagging is more important than all of you are making out
<O
There are a lot of molded leads that are manufactured which will have plugs wired the wrong way and broken earths. The earth saves lives.
<O
In a case that a active wire torches the chassis and the case becomes electrified, a person will not get an electric shock as the current will travel down the path of least resistance i.e. the earth.
<O
An RCD will help most of the time but not in all cases. On some faults an RCD will not trip.
<O
Tools do not have to be tested every 3 months unless you are on construction sites (union sites). Under the AS3760 tools should be tested every 6 months, it is only in the Victorian construction code of practices that it states that things should be tested every 3 months <O

[Shane Watson]

Well I am about to do the course and get licenced to T&T...so maybe I can start a sideline business!! :confused: :confused:

[Zed]

maybe so all safe, however the majority of us are hobbyists so not liable to workcover lisencing.

hell of a way to introduce yourself, your hobby is unsafe, let me sell you a solution.... :mad:

[All Safe]

In most cases electrical tools are safe. Most of the problems that are picked up in test and tagging is in a visual inspection.

Test and tagging is not going to pick up every thing because the tool may be damaged 5 mins after the tool is tested. but I have found many thing that look like the are in new condition yet they have a fault that could be potentially be live threatening.<O</O
<O
Before use of a tool people should be inspecting them for danger signs, like damage to the cord and burning at the plug because no one wants to die at work or doing their hobby.