What is testing and tagging?
Testing and tagging is an electrical service provided to ensure your electrical appliances are safe to use. There are two components to testing and tagging; first, we visually inspect the equipment for defects, damage, and missing components. Second, we provide electrical tests measuring insulation resistance, polarity, and earth continuity. Equipment is then tagged (labelled) with the appropriate safety status.
We help you:
- Identify potential electrical hazards, this includes malfunctioning equipment.
- Stay up-to-date with your safety plans, without the hassle. We organise the schedules, and it’s left in our capable and experienced hands.
- Management replacements efficiently, no hassle, we make the process seamless and easy.
- Ensure personal and equipment safety to you and your workplace
- All of your testing requirements, knowing they are completed by licensed, qualified professionals.
- Manage current certificates of conformity and registration if required.
We test:
- Visually inspecting all relevant electrical items
- Insulation resistance
- Earth leakages
- Lead connections and polarity
- Earth resistances and earth bonds
- Ensure all equipment is in a safe environment
Testing and tagging is completed under the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760: 2010 In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
Testing and tagging ensures the electrical aspect of your equipment is satisfactory, it does not, however, indicate that your item is operating to manufacturer specifications.
Why do I need to test and tag my equipment?
Under Queensland legislation, if you’re an employer, you must comply with workplace health and safety guidelines. This means ensuring all of your electrical equipment is in a safe working condition. Unfortunately, electrical equipment can wear and tear with time. Testing and Tagging is part of systemic safety planning for your business.
Testing and tagging on a regular basis ensures workplace electrical compliance with Workplace Health and Safety legislation. This substantiates your duty of care.
If you do not comply with the electrical specification, you risk your company being found negligible and liable completely for a workplace accident. Your insurance may refuse your claim or potentially cancel your account. This may influence future insurers covering your company or incur increased account coverage expenses. Your company may also be fined, penalised or if the accident was severe, face possible Imprisonment.
What equipment requires testing and tagging?
All electrical portable and plug-in appliances located within your workplace and up to 2.5m from the ground require regular inspection, testing, and tagging. As a general guide, the following items are required for testing and tagging:
- Laptop Computers
- Desktop computers and monitors
- Printers
- Photocopiers
- Fax machines / telephones / mobile phones / chargers
- Staff kitchen & tea room appliances (dishwashers, kettles, toasters, microwaves, etc.)
- All electric power tools
- Extension cords
- Power boards
- Leads / cord sets
- All double insulated appliances
- Audio/visual equipment (speakers, projectors, auditorium appliances)
- Portable air conditioners
- Isolation transformers
- Desk lamps
- Vacuum cleaners and electrical cleaning equipment
- Forklift chargers
- 3 phase electrical equipment
- RCD’s (Safety Switch)
Items will be classed as either:
- Class I – earthed appliances e.g. kettles and toasters.
- Class II – double insulated appliances identified with a symbol e.g. electrical tools or hairdryers.
What areas require testing and tagging?
The entirety of your work place must be tested and tagged; this includes:
- All office areas
- Factory
- Laboratory
- Workshops / tool rooms
- Kitchens, dining areas and lunch rooms
- Waiting and lounging areas
- Bathrooms and showers
- Spa and pools
- Classrooms / training rooms / meeting rooms
- Construction areas
- Temporary locations
- Car parks
- Manufacturing areas
- Retail sales areas
- Walkways / Hallways if necessary
Testing and Tagging Requirements of Hire Equipment / New Purchases
Electrical hire equipment defined as level 3 must have current conformity certification and registration on the national database. Upon purchasing electrical equipment, in-scope electrical equipment must meet the QLD requirements and standards, confirmed safe by a licensed and qualified electrician/supplier prior to purchasing.
Unsafe electrical equipment will be prohibited for use and issued notices by the Electrical Safety Office.
How often do I need to test and tag my equipment?
Under the AS/NZS 3760 legislation, there are minimum time requirements for testing and tagging your equipment. Please see below tables of QLD Work Safe recommended timeframes. For further information specified electrical equipment, review section 97 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.