News : July 2017
Electrical Tagging at Work
Every work space needs to be safe and functional. Proactivity is the key when it comes to maintaining your equipment and appliances. Electrical tagging and testing will help you keep track of which equipment has been verified as safe to use and which equipment is due for another inspection.
On June 12th, a woman was taken to hospital after suffering an electric shock at the Gawler Hotel in Adelaide. The incident took place whilst the woman was moving a refrigerator.
Dangerous appliances can be easily eliminated from commercial spaces with regular inspection. The same can be said for electrical equipment, including power tools and residual current devices. If you own a business, you are required to provide a safe environment for your staff members, customers, and other guests.
If you care about the longevity of your organisation, take a look at our tips for maintaining electrical equipment in your workplace.
Testing Appliances
The most effective way of eliminating shock in your working environment is hiring a professional to test & tag appliances. There are a number of everyday items that are often neglected when it comes to safety. Everyday appliances that are hidden in plain sight could be the most hazardous equipment in your workspace.
The following range of appliances should be regularly assessed for safe use:
- Small kitchen appliances: including coffee machines, microwaves, kettles etc.
- White goods: including refrigerators, washers, dryers etc.
- Cleaning equipment: including vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, pressure washers etc.
- Office equipment: including computers, printers, power boards, cords etc.
Testing Equipment
If your work involves the use of power tools, extension leads, RCDs, and other portable devices, testing, inspecting, and tagging electrical equipment should be a regular event on your work site. With so many electrical appliances in use, it can be easy to overlook some essential items for testing.
The following range of equipment should be regularly assessed for safe use:
- Circuit protection: including safety switches, circuit breakers etc.
- Power tools: including drills, saws, nail guns etc.
- Accessories: including power boards, extension leads, generators etc.
As a general rule of thumb, you need to test any piece of equipment that plugs in. Your business will have specific testing obligations. These are dictated by state law and the relevant industry safety standards.
Electrical Tagging Requirements
The nature and frequency of the tests you conduct in your workplace will vary based on your equipment and environment. As we mentioned earlier, the safest possible option is to test every item that plugs in.
There are some national safety standards that you can refer to when determining the frequency and the types of tests that need to be conducted. For electrical equipment testing requirements in most working environments, we refer to the AS/NZS 3760 standard for the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. For construction and demolition sites, you need to adhere to the AS/NZS 3012 standard for electrical installations.
If you want to know more about your specific testing obligations, take a look at the details here. If you have any questions, simply call us or get in touch via the online contact form. We’d be happy to help you secure your work space.
What are electrical tags?
They are tags that are attached to a piece of equipment after testing is complete. The tag will include the date when the item was last tested, details of who completed the testing, and a due date for the next test. They usually come in plastic form but you can find material tags attached to power cords and metal tags attached to fire extinguishers.
Who can take care of electrical tagging at my workplace?
We can! Here at Kerfoot, we offer a range of maintenance services to businesses. One of our electrical professionals can visit your place of business and inspect all of your electrical equipment. Our programmed preventative maintenance services (PPM) include RCD testing, emergency light inspection, and thermographic scanning.
Let us manage your electrical appliances and prevent unnecessary damage.
Faulty appliances can cost your business valuable hours, inhibiting productivity and potentially harming employees. There’s no reason to neglect your electrical equipment. Our friendly team can be in and out of your property in a jiffy. You only need to call us and book our services – we’ll take care of the rest.
At Kerfoot, we notify our clients when a scheduled maintenance booking is approaching. This way, you’ll remain on top of your electrical tagging requirements with minimal stress and effort on your part.
Contact us today to discuss our maintenance services.