As a business owner or manager, it's your responsibility to ensure the safety of your employees. One way to do this is by making sure that all electrical equipment in the workplace is regularly tested and tagged.
Testing and tagging is a process whereby an electrician checks each item of electrical equipment for damage or wear and tear and then attaches a tag to it. The tag shows the date on which the equipment was last checked and the results of the test.
The most important reason for testing and tagging electrical equipment is to keep employees and visitors safe. If electrical equipment is not properly maintained, it can pose a serious fire or electrocution hazard. Faulty electrical equipment is one of the leading causes of workplace fires in Australia. Testing and tagging of electrical equipment helps to identify potential hazards and allows for corrective action to be taken before an accident occurs. It is recommended that electrical equipment be tested and tagged every 3-6 months or as per the manufacturer's guidelines.
As a business owner or manager, you have a duty of care to your employees to provide a safe working environment. This includes ensuring that all electrical equipment in the workplace is safe to use.
If you don't test and tag your electrical equipment, you could be putting your employees at risk of injury or even death. In the event of an accident, you could also be liable for damages.
Another benefit of testing and tagging electrical equipment is that it helps you to identify and remove potential hazards. A test and tag expert will use specialised testing equipment to check for damage or wear and tear.
If there are any problems, they will attach a tag to the item of equipment. This tag will show the date on which the problem was found and what needs to be done to fix it.
For example, if an electrician finds that a particular item of electrical equipment has a damaged power cord, they may attach a tag that says "do not use" or "replace power cord".
This helps to ensure that employees do not use the equipment until the problem has been fixed. It also helps you to keep track of which items of equipment need to be repaired or replaced.
Another benefit of testing and tagging electrical equipment is that it helps you to stay on top of appliance maintenance and replacement. Over time, all electrical equipment will start to show signs of wear and tear.
If you don't regularly test and tag your equipment, you may not realise that a particular item needs to be repaired or replaced until it's too late. This can lead to costly repairs or even accidents.
By making sure that all your electrical equipment is regularly tested and tagged, you can help to prolong its lifespan and avoid expensive repairs. Regular testing and tagging can help businesses to anticipate these needs and plan accordingly.
In Australia, businesses are required to comply with occupational health and safety (OH&S) laws. These laws require businesses to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees.
One way to do this is by regularly testing and tagging all electrical equipment in the workplace. This helps to ensure that all equipment is safe to use and reduces the risk of accidents.
It's important to note that OH&S laws vary from state to state. So, make sure you check the laws in your state or territory before you start testing and tagging electrical equipment.
If an employee is injured or killed as a result of using faulty electrical equipment, the business owner or manager may be held liable. This is why it's so important to make sure that all electrical equipment in the workplace is regularly tested and tagged.
If you can prove that you have taken all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of your employees, you will have a much better chance of avoiding liability if an accident does occur.
.svg)
.svg)
