Electrical Test and Tag Frequently Asked Questions

What Is AS/NZ 3760?A document written bypitted.Electrical Testing: The appliance will be
Standards Australia that specifies the procedurestested with a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) to
and criteria for the in-service safety inspectiontest for any unseen electrical faults. These tests
and testing of electrical equipment which isinclude; an insulation resistance test; earth bond
designed for connection by a flexible cord. It alsotest; a polarity test; and an earth leakage
applies to cord extension sets, portable outlettest.Record Keeping: Upon completion of any test,
devices, portable residual current devices andall information will be stored in a comprehensive
portable isolation transformers. Appendices includedatabase, and a safety tag will be applied to the
detailed test methods.Why Should I Test and Tagappliance verifying its safe approval.What
My Electrical Equipment? As individuals and theEquipment Needs to be Tested? Any appliance
broader community alike become more awarewithin a business that has a flexible cord that
and concerned with adhering to Occupationalplugs into either a 240 v power outlet, or 3 phase
Health and Safety laws, great care has to bepower outlet needs to tested regularly to ensure
taken to avoid accidents in the workplace. Thethat the appliance is electrically safe to use within
presence of regulations protecting employeesthe workplace. These appliances include anything
against company negligence means that thefrom computers to toasters, from drills and other
prosecution of the employer in cases oftools to large factory machinery. ALL
negligence is much more likely and harsherAPPLIANCES within the workplace need to be
penalties are faced, than were in the past.A welltested, and and continue to be tested in order to
planned program of preventive maintenance, withadhere to Occupational Health and Safety
regular electrical safety checks, is the ideal wayregulations, and comply with Australian Standards
to avoid unnecessary and unfortunate accidents,AS/NZ 3760.What Does Microwave Oven
and the legal ramifications that follow.How OftenLeakage Testing Involve? The process of testing
Do I Have To Get My Equipment Tested? EveryMicrowave ovens involves the following:Visual
work situation is different and the frequency ofInspection: The microwave oven will be inspected
testing depends on the harshness of theto ensure the surface of the door is not
environment in question. There may be multipledamaged, the door fits squarely and securely and
environments in the one workplace, which meansopens and closes smoothly, the door hinges are in
that some appliances may need to be retested ingood condition and no corrosion is evident on the
as little as 3 months if the surroundings are harsh.door, the door hinges or the oven
However, if the surrounding environment is lessinterior.Microwave Leakage Test: A test will be
detrimental to the appliance itself, retest datesconducted with a microwave leakage tester to
may extend to a period of anywhere up to 5ensure that no harmful radiation will leaking out of
years.What Does Test And Tagging Involve? Thethe microwave oven.Mark Grech
process of testing appliance involves theAll Safe Workplace Inspections Technical Director
following:Visual Inspection: The most importantSafe are Melbourne based electrical testing and
test is a Visual Inspection of the device, especiallytagging specialists, servicing Victoria wide, with a
leads. Cords should be firmly anchored in plugs,range of Occupational Health and Safety services
connections made solidly with no frayed ends.in accordance with Australian Standards AS3760.
Copper terminals should be clean and not