Test and tag in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs

Who

Peter Stafford, NSW contractor licence 237173C (Electrician class)

Where

Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, from Bronte

Price

Peter gives you a clear quote before any work starts.

Ambient Electrical has provided test and tag for industrial and office equipment, kitchen appliances and other electrical appliances since 2011, with the work done to AS/NZS 3760. The testing is documented and the report is sent to you.

Each appliance, tool and extension lead gets a thorough visual inspection, then electrical testing of:

• Insulation
• Polarity
• Continuity
• Trip times for portable safety switches

Results are recorded electronically, and many faulty items can be repaired on site from the spare parts carried in the van.

Test and tag requirements in NSW

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, employers must keep the workplace safe for workers and visitors, and that includes the electrical equipment. SafeWork NSW's code of practice says electrical equipment used in higher-risk environments, such as wet or dusty areas, outdoors and commercial kitchens, should generally be tested at least once every 12 months, and more often in some cases: for example every 6 months for equipment used in manufacturing, and every 3 months for hire equipment. For the testing required under WHS Regulation clause 150, a competent person includes a licensed electrician. (Source: SafeWork NSW code of practice (PDF))

Warehouses, factories and industrial units, such as those around Botany Road and Port Botany, are the kind of higher-risk workplaces the code has in mind; the page on test and tag for Botany workplaces sets out the testing intervals for them.

A compliant workplace also lowers the risk of injury and liability; failing to meet your obligations can affect your insurance. For the wider workplace, see commercial electrician work.

Which items need testing, and what goes on the tag?

Clause 150 of the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 covers plug-in equipment, supplied through a socket outlet, that is used where moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or dust are likely to damage it or shorten its life. Brand-new equipment that has never been used does not have to be tested before first use, but it should still be inspected for damage. Each test record must give the name of the person who did the testing, the date, the outcome and the date the next test is due, and the record can be a tag on the item; it is kept until the item is next tested, permanently removed from the workplace or disposed of. Ambient's report also sets out a schedule for the next round of testing. (Source: SafeWork NSW code of practice (PDF))

Sources

• SafeWork NSW: Managing electrical risks in the workplace, code of practice (PDF)