To comply with the Electrical Safety or WHS regulations in your state or territory to guarantee electrical safety in your workplace. One of the measures and requirements specified is the electrical testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment.
These regulations refer to the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 3760:2022) for guidance on implementing these safety measures. The current Australian standard, AS/NZS 3760:2022, specifies the testing and tagging required for confirming the electrical safety of portable electrical appliances.
While the standard doesn't mandate the use of a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) for these tests, using a PAT is still one of the most comprehensive and efficient methods of ensuring the safety of electrical items.
Electrical test and tag cover several areas of inspection and measurement. Testing ensures that electrical systems are functioning properly, helping employers meet regulations and industry standards.
There are different types of electrical testing, each needing to meet specific government standards. Testing should occur throughout the equipment's lifespan, with intervals between inspections varying. Regular testing of electrical equipment is recommended before use. Different equipment classes require different inspections at varying intervals.
Hostile areas such as construction sites, Factories and workshops should have frequent inspections, while non-hostile areas, such as office’s and residential areas, require less frequent testing. A properly tested electrical system can protect the environment and employees.
Many electrical devices are vulnerable to heat, moisture, and dust and can suffer unexpected damage due to outdated or defective electrical connections. Proper electrical testing can protect your devices from such damage.
All equipment with a cord or cable and a plug above 50V needs to be inspected, tested and tagged. This includes items such as: extension leads, portable RCD's, laptops and computers, and kettles and toasters. Essentially, if it plugs into a 240v socket and is used in your business it must be tested and tagged to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760.
3 Months: For building and construction. If you take your equipment on-site, it is at greater risk of damage due to the harsh and unpredictable environment. It is therefore inspected more every 3 months.
6 Months: Factories, warehouses and workshops. These areas are considered harsh, controlled environments where appliances are used more frequently. 6 Monthly inspections are required for appliances operated in the environment.
12 Months: Office, Shop front, Stores. For items that are mostly fixed or remain within a non-hostile environment. Whilst these items may not move, cords are often prone to flexing and twisting (eg, computer cords, kitchen appliances) an inspection should be carried out every 12 months.
The different coloured tags are generally specific to construction work, most commonly on-site or within a workshop (hostile environment areas). These colours denote what month period the test was conducted and is a quick reference to its currency. For example:
Red Tag - December, January and February
Green Tag - March, April and May
Blue Tag - June, July and August
Yellow Tag - September, October and November
For non-hostile environments the tag colour is generally neutral colours such as, black or white.
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