If you own a business organisation in Australia, you must have heard of electrical tests and tagging. Electrical testing and tagging assure the safety of electrical devices and equipment used in commercial and industrial applications, safeguarding your employees from any hazards or mishaps. Electrical testing is frequently required for businesses to ensure compliance with Australian standards and regulations. Let us find out more about the process below.
What Are Tests and Tags?
The process of ensuring the safety of portable electrical items is known as test and tag.
Reviewing of two aspects is done throughout the test and tag process. First, the equipment goes through visual inspection for damage, faults and missing components. Second, the assessing of polarity, insulation and environmental safety of the appliance happens. Then the device is tagged with the appropriate safety grade.
The primary goal of the test and tag is to ensure worker safety. It safeguards the employees of a firm. It helps them to identify which appliances are safe and which are not by detecting failing components. It allows for easy repair or replacement.
Who Needs to Test and Tag?
Construction, demolition and mining industries are required to get electrical testing and tagging every three months. As the nature of these industries is severe, equipment damage can occur at a faster pace. The test and tag colours will change for different periods throughout the year for every three months of testing, essentially making certain months correspond with a distinct test tag colour.
Testing and tagging are not compulsory in other jobs, except in these industries. A firm, on the other hand, is obligated to maintain worker safety. In other words, if an employee gets injured by office equipment, the company will be held accountable. So, businesses should have their office equipment tested by electrical contractors in Adelaide or any other suburb in Australia to avoid accidents.
Why Tests and Tags Are Important?
Electrical gadgets will eventually get faulty. Inspecting them regularly will reveal which ones need replacement. It aids in monitoring an appliance till it reaches the end of its useful life. It shows that the organisation adheres to workplace safety rules. Your business will suffer if you do not comply. Your company could be held accountable in the event of a factory accident. It could put you in a difficult situation.
Furthermore, your insurance company has the authority to cancel your subscription. It could result in a rise in the cost of insurance coverage. A fine could be imposed on your company as well. In the worst-case situation, you could end up in prison if the mishap leads to death.
What Equipment Needs Test and Tag?
All plug-in and portable electric appliances in your workplace that are up to 2.5 m from the ground require regular testing and tagging. For example, extension leads, cord sets and portable RCDs need testing.
In general, electrical appliances come under two categories:
Class I –An earthed appliance, such as kettles, microwaves and toasters.
Class II –Double-insulated appliances, usually denoted by a symbol (a square within a square) or the words ‘Double Insulated', such as most electric drills and hair dryers.
It is worth noting that new equipment only needs to be visually inspected and tagged, not tested.
Who Can Test and Tag?
It is a common misconception that to test and tag you must be an industrial electrician. According to AS/NZS 3760:2010, a ‘Competent Person' can also test and tag in Australia. It is done by enrolling in a test and tag course where the student learns how to use a PAT tester and acquires the necessary knowledge and skills.
All workplaces across Australia should be able to demonstrate work safety to comply with the regulations. Thus, the technician has to keep complete records of the test.
Erika Rhein, the contributing author and the professional blogger by profession. With years of experience, I now focus on writing blogs on varied niches. Being a research enthusiast, I like to provide my readers with the useful and informative articles on the different topics they are looking for. I aim to create a difference through my writing.
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