PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE:
Penalties for breaches of the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004 have been substantially increased. The maximum penalties are now $3,171,400
for corporations and $285,426 for individuals. Section 32 of the OHS Act also provides for jail sentences for reckless endangerment. This is defined
as where a person ‘recklessly engages in conduct that places or may place another person who is at a workplace in danger of serious injury’. Where
this can be proven, the offence is punishable by up to the maximum fine listed above, and/or five years’ imprisonment for individuals.
Why Test and Tag? - your obligation under new laws
New laws to the Occupational Health and Workplace Safety Acts which were introduced around Australia and New Zealand as of the 1st of January 2012, require “an employer to provide and maintain a safe workplace”, which includes maintaining safety in the use of electrical equipment in an attempt to prevent hazards such as electric shock and damage to property and employees. In Australia and New Zealand, this is done using the Standard; AS/NZS 3760:2010 “In-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment” as the reference document.
What is Electrical Testing and Tagging?
Test and tag is the name given to the process of visually inspecting and electrically testing in-service electrical equipment for personal use and/or safety. Test and Tag can be also referred to as:
• Test and Tag
• Electrical Testing
• Testing and Tagging
• Electrical Tagging,
• Appliance Testing and Tagging
• Portable Appliance Testing
The appliance undergoes a visual inspection for defects such as damage or missing components and a process of electrical testing to measure earth continuity, insulation resistance and polarity. After testing has determined a pass, a test tag is attached to the appliance lead indicating when it was tested, when the next test is due, and a tracking code. Retesting intervals of equipment can vary depending on the environment where the equipment is located. Testing and Tagging should be conducted by a “competent person” - “A Competent Person is a person who has the necessary practical and theoretical skills, acquired through training, qualification, experience or a combination of these, to correctly undertake the tasks prescribed by this Standard.” The Standard also notes that a Competent Person is not required to be a registered or licensed electrical practitioner eg. Electrician, therefore you are not paying for Licensed Electrician rates.
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RCD and Safety Switch Testing | Microwave Leakage Testing | Testing and Tagging | 3 Phase Test and Tag
