Author: Metrotest

Working near electricity or using electrical appliances is dangerous, and accidents such as electrocution or arc flashes can lead to fatal consequences. To ensure a safe workplace, employers are obligated to have electrical appliances on site inspected and labelled properly.

As per standards and regulations, all electrical equipment, tools and leads sold in New Zealand must be tested on a regular basis – a procedure we know as ‘test and tag’. This reduces the risk to workers using the equipment. Testing and tagging must be carried out by a trained professional, using proper testing tools.

How often electrical appliances should be inspected depends mainly on the type of environment where they are used or located. The general guidelines are as follows:

• New appliances – before initial use
• Building sites –every three months
• Factories – every six months
• Commercial workplaces, offices and most other applications – yearly or up to 5 years in some situations.

The AS/NZ 3760:2010 (Table 4) sets the minimum required standard interval for test and tag frequency in New Zealand. The frequencies may vary according to each workplace’s specific risk management practices and OHS planning.

Table 4: AS/NZ 3760 Test and Tag Intervals

The hostile environment referred to in the table include exposure to conditions of heat, moisture, vibration, corrosive chemicals and mechanical damage.

Electrical testing standards

In addition to following the standard inspection time intervals, you need to make sure that the procedure meets all requirements set out by AS/NZS 3760:2010 for:

• testing the equipment,
• tagging equipment once they have been tested, and
• recording the test results of the expected life of the appliance.

Schedule 4 of the Electrical (Safety) Regulations 2010 lists recognised standards for all commonly available electrical products. All other standards not specifically stated can be found on Schedule 2 of the Regulations under AS/NZ 3820 – Essential Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment.

Where an appliance is found to be faulty, it should immediately be tagged as “out of action” until necessary repairs are done by a professional.

What kind of equipment must be tested?

• All equipment that are plugged into the low voltage power supply
• Portable outlet devices or power boards
• Portable transformers
• Portably heavy-duty tools
• Residual current devices
• Battery chargers
• Flexible cords that are connected to equipment in high-risk environments, such as laboratories

Other devices or appliances that fall under the following conditions don’t require testing:

• Equipment that is fixed or wired directly into the wall.
• Equipment that would require dismantling to be tested.
• Light fittings suspended from the ceiling or similar electrical products that are unlikely to get anyone electrocuted upon touching.
• LAN cabling or mains outlets.

How much does testing cost?

Test and tag specialists typically charge an hourly rate or by the item. You can check online to get a feel for how much is a reasonable fee. Alternatively, you can control your costs by buying your own portable appliance tester (PAT)  and having a staff member trained to do the testing.

Only a ‘competent’ person can carry out in-service inspection and testing of electrical appliances. In order to become competent in test and tag work, a person must be able to prove competency through training, knowledge or a combination of both. The best way to do this would be to attend a test and tag competency course.

If you have a lot of equipment to be tested every so often, having a staff member take a test and tag training course is a small investment that will save you a lot of money later on. Furthermore, you will not only ensure the safety of your employees but you’ll also avoid the risk of non-compliance.

Ensuring workplace safety is every employer’s responsibility. In fact, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires employers to protect workers by eliminating or minimising risks at work.

Electrical testing and tagging is one way to ensure compliance with the Act. It is so cheap and fast that there is no excuse not to do it at the required frequency. You can even do it yourself if you are competent in doing the procedure.

To be considered as a ‘Competent Person’, you must be able to prove competency through training, knowledge or a combination of both. The best way to do this would be to attend a test and tag competency course where you’ll learn the knowledge and skills in using a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT testing) properly. Using a PAT is an easy way to ensure your tools, leads and appliances are compliant and tested for electrical integrity.

Being competent in testing and tagging comes with a number of benefits:

• You save time in looking for a trustworthy and reliable contractor as you could simply train internal staff to carry out testing and tagging to the required standards.
• You save costs through self-compliance. Training is cheaper than hiring a sparkie every few months or so.
• In-house testing and tagging allows you to schedule the inspection at a time most suitable to production requirements, so it doesn’t impede productivity.

It’s a good idea to bring your own test and tag machine when undertaking a test and tag course. This way, you will understand its various features and have firsthand experience of its application.

What type of equipment must be tested and tagged?

New equipment only needs to be visually inspected and tagged. On the other hand, portable appliances that fall into either of the two categories need to be tested and tagged:

Class I – earthed appliances such as irons, kettles and toasters

Class II – double insulated appliances such as electric drills and hair dryers. These are usually identified with the label ‘Double Insulated’ or a symbol (a square within a square)

In short, all devices that have a removable plug, a flexible cable and a high voltage (not exceeding 50V) should be inspected. This includes cord sets, extension leads and portable RCD’s.

How often the appliance should be tested depends on the environment in which it is used. For example, in construction and mining industries where the nature of work is harsh, test and tag procedures must be done every 3 months and meet the appropriate standards.

Remember, electrical safety is your responsibility. It pays to have knowledge of electrical systems that you’re using in the workplace and the regulations that cover their use. Not taking the appropriate actions to provide a safe working environment may result in legal and financial consequences. So it’s always a good idea to be on the side of the law, rather than against it.

If you are interested in doing an electrical testing and tagging course, get in touch with our experts at MetroTest to book your spot.