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