Requirements vary in each State and there are many Acts, Regulations, Australian Standards and Codes of Practice. OHS legislation is also constantly being updated, and in many instances is left open to interpretation. See the Legislation section for more details.
At National Safety Consultants we recommend that ALL electrical equipment in ALL workplaces is inspected, tested and tagged, and that it is the frequency of testing and tagging which is varied according to the workplace environment.
Certainly in NSW, ALL electrical equipment used on construction sites or in a hostile operating environment (as defined by the OHS Regulation 2001) MUST be Inspected, Tested and Tagged on a regular basis by an electrician or Competent Person.
Recent amendments made to the NSW OHS Regulation 2001 clauses 64 and 65, both relating to Inspection Testing and Tagging. In a nutshell the amendment states that electrical equipment not being used in a 'hostile operating environment' does not require regular testing and tagging. It defines a Hostile Operating Environment as;
3) In this clause, hostile operating environment mean an operating environment at a place of work where an electrical article is in its normal use subjected to operating conditions that are likely to result in damage to the article, and, for example, includes an operating environment that may:
a) Cause mechanical damage to the article, or
b) Expose the article to moisture, heat, vibration, corrosive substances or dust that is likely to result in damage to the article.
Many businesses may be quick to define their workplace as 'non-hostile', but careful consideration should be given to this before deciding not to test and tag the electrical equipment;
- • Most offices have a kitchenette or tea room – the average kettle is plugged in up to 30 times per day, and is operating in an environment with moisture.
- • Under desk areas are often extremely dusty and a collection point for discarded staples and paper clips which are major contributors to electrical disaster.
- • Power boards under desks are subject to damage by kicking.
- • A laminating machine which is kept in a cupboard and brought out every time it is used is subject to mechanical damage.
- • Legislation still requires for a Risk Assessment to be completed for each item that is proposed not to test and tag. This in its self can be an expensive process, and still leaves you exposed to risk of prosecution if an accident does occur.
- • The Test and Tagging frequency required for these areas may be between 1 and 5 years. The cost of test and tagging these items at such infrequent periods is insignificant compared to the possible consequences of maintaining unsafe electrical equipment in your workplace.
- • By testing and tagging these items you will also receive a comprehensive asset register.
- • We can supply New to Service tags at a small cost which your employees can tag any newly purchased equipment with until the next test and tagging due date.
If you need further advice, have any questions or would like to arrange for a quotation please contact us and we would be more than happy to assist.
