So you’ve seen electrical appliance tagging around the workplace but you aren’t sure why it’s needed? At Jim’s Test & Tag, we are Australia’s number one advocate for appliance tagging services. Without proper risk management procedures, people could be injured in your business, and nobody wants that.
Every day, on the job, our technicians discover potentially deadly appliances. Situations, where an item isn’t being used correctly, has been damaged, or simply hasn’t been checked for years. Sometimes, it is the most popular item in your workplace (like the microwave or the coffee machine) or a power board that has been set up and forgotten.
What is Electrical Appliance Tagging?
Electrical appliance tagging is what happens after an item has been inspected. It means that your equipment has been identified as safe to use on the testing date (in accordance with the current Australian standards. This tag helps businesses keep track of their testing requirements and manage safety in their building. When an electrical appliance is tagged and tested, the tag is used to identify the product. It also provides information about the product such as its model number, serial number, date of manufacture, and other details.
Why Electrical Appliance Tagging is important?
Ultimately, this process is in place to catch faulty items before they can cause an electrical shock. In fact, it’s not just the electrical shock you could be exposed to – there’s also a chance that your forgotten electrical appliances could start a fire. According to recent information from the CFA in Geelong (Victoria), cooking and electrical fires are amongst the most popular causes of fire throughout the region.
Luckily, through our appliance testing and tagging services, we have been able to catch electrical faults before they cause fires. But we need businesses to make the first step – you have to be aware of the importance of electrical appliance tagging to make informed choices that protect your business.
#PSA Always plug portable heaters in at the wall. Extension leads/power boards can't handle the high electrical current #wintersolstice pic.twitter.com/hyy1RKojtw
— Jim's Test & Tag (@jimstestandtag) June 21, 2017
Electrical Safety
According to the Government of Western Australia, there were 1,644 electric shocks reported in 2015-16 in WA alone (not including electrical shocks that resulted in a fatality). It is clear that when it comes to electrical safety, we all need to be diligent. You can do your part by investing in regular inspection services.
Statutory testing standards are created and maintained by the Australian Government and Standards Australia. There are laws and regulations in place to help manage and reduce electrical risks in commercial, industrial, and residential environments. These standards are more important than just ticking a box – they’re there to make a difference. They are designed (and reviewed periodically) to make sure lives are saved.
If you’re a business owner and you fail to meet your electrical safety requirements, you could face penalties. These penalties could be individual or organisational depending on the associated incident. Fines for negligence vary from state to state – to give you an idea, in Queensland, individuals could be fined up to $50,000 for “failure to comply with a health and safety duty or electrical safety duty”. Organisations could be fined up to $500,000. For more information, take a look at their Worksafe website.
Who Can Test and Tag Electrical Equipment?
Electrical testing and tagging are essential in the workplace to prevent potential hazards. Testing and tagging should be done on a regular basis. The frequency of the inspections depends on the type of equipment and its environment. Factory-style environments, such as manufacturing or construction facilities, require more frequent testing than residential-type settings. Therefore, it’s important to find a qualified electrician to perform these inspections. In addition to having the correct electrical licenses and insurance, an electrician should have the proper training and experience to carry out these tests.
Electrical safety regulations vary by jurisdiction. It is illegal to repair electrical equipment without a licence. In addition to licensing, electrical safety regulations also prohibit tagging or testing without proper training. It is therefore essential to know which equipment you need to check for safety. If you have a small business, you should seek out a qualified electrical worker to help you ensure that your equipment is safe. It is important to understand the requirements of the Standards for electrical work, as these can differ between states.
Jim’s Test and Tag
So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know the importance of electrical appliance tagging, get in touch with us today. There’s no better way to prepare your workplace today. If you own or operate a business, you need to be vigilant – always. Call 131 546 for a free quote now.
Did you find this article helpful? Make sure you share it around – we all have a duty to spread safety awareness.
