In another thread there was mention of testing and tagging of electrical equipment, can someone tell me when this has to be done as we never do it, and I just checked and read this on the govt website.
There is no legal requirement for test and tag in accordance with AS/NZS 3760 to be used at home or at work.
sr2,
Oct 10, 10:34am
Look again, any electrical appliance used in a commercial environment has to be tested and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 3760.
johotech,
Oct 10, 10:41am
No it doesn't. Stop drinking the kool-aid.
sr2,
Oct 10, 11:11am
Believe me mate I wish you were right! As part of my contract project and facilities management work I oversee compliance on a number of medium to large NZ companies; it's a rather lack-luster part of an otherwise interesting and challenging job but in it's defense it generates some good coin. Belive me electrical test'n tag may be a proverbial pain in the butt, don't fall into the trap of cherry picking the legislation.
The Electrical Safety Regulations 2010 state: 2 r 26 When fittings and appliances in use deemed to be electrically safe. This regulation applies to a fitting or appliance, other than an electrical medical device, that is in use, or available for use: by an employee or contractor of the owner of the fitting or appliance; or by a hirer or lessee under a hire or lease agreement with the owner of the fitting or appliance; or by the occupier of premises that are rented or leased from the owner of the fitting or appliance. Plant/equipment/appliances/too- ls used by employees or contractors in the workplace need to be designed, made, set up, and maintained to be safe for employees or contractors to use.
A fitting or appliance described in subclause (1)(a) is deemed to be electrically safe if it has a current tag issued in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. A fitting or appliance described in subclause (1)(b) or (c) is deemed to be electrically safe- if it has a current tag issued in accordance with AS/NZS 3760 The Requirements for Label/Tags can be found in AS/NZS 3760:2010 Section 2.4.2.1
Edited to say: sorry for the big copy and paste, oh for the day the bureaucrats start using simple plain English!
I agree there is plenty of confusing information out there. A lot of it provided by people who charge to carry out the tests. Other information is simplified versions which only explain one method of compliance.
To cut a long story short. It's the "Health and Safety at Work" act that you need to comply with. Test and tag is one method of complying. In some industries, it's possibly the only method. But, there is nowhere in the act that states that "Tags" are mandatory, and there are other legal methods of complying with the act that don't include tags.
msigg,
Oct 10, 8:48pm
At home you can do what you like. If it is your equipment and you use it all good, you may not be allowed on some sites with that equipment. If an employee uses it then it should be tested. Easy as.
mrfxit,
Oct 10, 9:29pm
An interesting numbers game.
Compared to how many cables get tested by any single contractor, . How many fail testing. How many are visibly faulty How many false positives in testing (retested ok)
rbd,
Oct 10, 10:11pm
And how many have it pointed out to them something is faulty (a sparking 4-way multi-box) yet still put a tag on it.
It's yet another crock. Putting tags on wires that go behind desks without even inspecting the length of the wire for damage? Pointless.
sr2,
Oct 11, 1:31am
Have to say when I saw 'Jim's Mowing' advertising T'nT services it set off a few alarm bells for me! I'm of the opinion that the idea behind T'nT is a sound one it's the implementation that's usually the issue.
I've set up a number of sites with the appropriate equipment, SOP's, and staff training to T'nT in house; it's proving to be an effective solution.
tfc3,
Oct 11, 5:29am
Your tester is not doing his job correctly. I always pulled the cord out and carried a visual check. If it turned computers etc off so be it.My name on the test record.
kam04,
Oct 11, 6:28am
Testing is only as good as the day it was done. The day(s) after testing someone could damage or drop something on a lead or an appliance and deem it unsafe without knowing and it will still carry a tag to say it is still safe to use The positive thing I have found about it when I've done T&T at the time is repairing leads and appliances with exposed cores at the entry of the appliance and plug tops etc.
lookoutas,
Oct 11, 7:26am
Here are the facts.
You do not need to get your leads tested & tagged.
The minute the Gestapo from Heath & Safety turn up - you have to get them done or else.
franc123,
Oct 11, 7:56am
You and me both, when you see home service franchisees jumping on the bandwagon you know its easy money for doing F all. It reeks of a make work scheme for middle aged sparkies who can't, or can't be bothered with, climbing about in roof cavaties anymore, dust off the megga tester and away you go.
kecal,
Oct 11, 8:24am
test and tag bull shit, bureaucracy , tradespeople think its a joke.
johotech,
Oct 11, 10:16am
The thing is, the test and tag operators don't have to have any electrical license to do the tagging. So it's up to the responsible person (PCBU) at the company, to decide if the operator is competent. Those PCBUs will have no idea if the person is carrying out the tests to the correct standard, for all the various type of equipment they might have at their company.
Then there is the fact that many of these T&T operator just buy an expensive tester, but have no idea what the tester is actually testing, or how to verify those tests. I can tell you that there are testers out there, that don't do all the tests required under the standard for tagging (3760), but will still give an OK at the end.
If any faulty equipment is found, even from visual checks such as an extension lead that might have exposed wires, an unlicensed T&T operator is not allowed to repair it. All they are allowed to do is withdraw it from service and refer for repair or disposal by expert personnel - i.e., a licensed electrical worker. Even the PCBU or other staff at the company is not allowed to repair any equipment.
The repair work is carried out under a different standard (5762), which includes all the testing in 5760 as well as additional requirements.
But as I said earlier, T&T is only one method of compliance with the HSWA. There are other methods.
noswalg,
Oct 11, 5:12pm
OR. Somebody receives a serious injury from faulty equipment, ends up in hospital which makes that incident Notifiable to WorkSafe then the employer is in a world of hurt for not taking "All reasonable steps to prevent harm" it is reasonable to expect that equipment is safe to use, it's not reasonable to expect employers to carry out daily T'n'T but it is reasonable to expect they do it at least annually.
stevo2,
Oct 11, 5:58pm
Ok, so onsite we have to have an RCD multibox at the source and all leads and tools must run off that. So if the RCD is tagged to be safe, why does each worker need to get all of his tools/leads tagged every 3 months as well?
saxman99,
Oct 11, 6:41pm
Because contrary to popular belief the RCD is not some magic device which never fails. I got whacked the other day using a power tool in light rain and the friggin RCD didn't react at all.
ryanm2,
Oct 11, 7:02pm
You need to do some light reading - Tags are not required if leads or devices are used downstream of an RCD , you do need to keep a log of your devices and do a daily check on them. As johotech has stated their is no legal requirement for tags , you just have to prove ( if employee hurt or worksafe come onto site) you have taken all practical steps to ensure safety. Being a sparky , a device plugged into a RCD is 1000 times safer than a device with a sticky label on it.
johotech,
Oct 11, 7:04pm
So you get a tingle off your own tool? Has it been tested and tagged? Did you report the incident to Worksafe as you are required to do?
mrfxit,
Oct 11, 7:50pm
LMAO, power tool & light rain = Darwin award candidate (regardless of protection systems.)
mrfxit,
Oct 11, 7:51pm
I get tingles like that all the time. (I blame the wife)
saxman99,
Oct 11, 8:10pm
Wasn't at work.
saxman99,
Oct 11, 8:11pm
Yeah, probably.
Since the public registrations are closed, you must have an invite from a current member to be able to register and post in this thread.
Have an account? Login here.