Electrical safety should always be top of mind when it comes to keeping the people in your home or workplace safe. To ensure protection against any potential hazards, regularly monitoring all electrical equipment is crucial. A common way of doing so is electrical testing and tagging.

What Is Testing and Tagging?

Testing and tagging is a systematic process of inspecting, testing, and labelling electrical equipment to ensure its compliance with the Australian WHS and Electrical Safety regulation and workplace safety. There are a wide range of electrical items that require regular testing and tagging to ensure they remain safe to use, generally categorised by any device that has a flexible cable, a removable plug, and is not low voltage (i.e. exceeds 50V). Common items to test and tag across both homes and businesses include power cords, extension leads, portable appliances, and residual current devices (RCDs). 

The electrical test and tag process involves both a visual inspection and a series of electrical tests conducted on the equipment to identify any faults or defects that may pose a risk. The process typically includes checks for visible damage, faulty insulation, loose connections, and other potential hazards. Your tester may also perform tests such as earth continuity, insulation resistance, and polarity checks to verify the integrity and safety of the equipment.

Why is Testing and Tagging Necessary?

Electrical equipment needs to be properly maintained and checked regularly to prevent posing risk to individuals and workplaces. Faulty or damaged electrical equipment that is left unchecked can lead to emergency situations such as electric shocks, fires, or other accidents that may result in injuries or even loss of life. Therefore, testing and tagging are important measures to reduce these risks and maintain electrical safety.

Depending on the industry and local government, you may be legally required to test and tag equipment as often as every three months. However, even if your business doesn’t fall within these legal guidelines, every business owner has a duty of care to the people within your premises. As such, it’s highly recommended to carry out regular testing and tagging to ensure a safe electrical environment in your workplace.

Testing and tagging is also helpful as it means potential issues can be identified and fixed early on, which can help prevent critical electrical malfunctions and reduce the costs and downtime associated with fixing equipment.

Who Can Perform Testing and Tagging?

The handling of electrical equipment should always be done by a qualified electrical technician. 

Whether you need to test and tag machines and complex electrical equipment, or just a couple of small kitchen appliances, it’s important to enlist the help of someone who is specifically trained in how to test and tag. 

By entrusting a professional with the right knowledge, skills, and certifications, you can be sure that the testing and tagging process is carried out safely and properly. 

How Often Should Testing and Tagging be Performed?

Guidelines and standards offer recommendations for testing intervals to ensure both safety and compliance. These guidelines take into account factors such as the type of equipment, how often it’s used, and the setting in which the equipment is used. 

For example, a portable appliance in a commercial setting may require testing every 6 to 12 months, while in a residential setting, the interval may be longer. Similarly, equipment exposed to harsh conditions, frequent use, or used by the public may require more frequent inspections.

What Happens During a Testing and Tagging Inspection?

During a testing and tagging inspection, a step-by-step process is carried out to effectively evaluate the safety of each electrical item. 

1. Visual examination: The inspector will conduct a visual examination to identify any visible damages or defects. 
2. Electrical tests: The inspector will conduct electrical tests such as earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and leakage current tests, depending on the specific equipment being inspected.
3. Tagging: Once the inspection is finished, the inspector will use a tag or sticker to label each piece of equipment that successfully passes the tests. This label includes details such as the date of inspection, the name of the inspector, and the next scheduled date for testing. If a piece of equipment fails the inspection, the inspector will label it as “Out of Service” and advise the relevant people to avoid using it until the necessary repairs have been completed.

Conclusion

Testing and tagging is a non-negotiable when it comes to ensuring electrical safety standards for your home or workplace. Regular inspections and maintenance of electrical equipment can help prevent accidents and injuries, and stay up to date with electrical safety regulation and workplace safety compliance standards.

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Orange Electrical are specialist electricians in Brisbane with an avid focus on quality. We can Design, Roll-out and Deliver electrical projects all over Queensland and even internationally. Get in touch with our team for a quote for your project today. Get in touch: (07) 3357 8618.