Test & Tag FAQ's

PAT - What is a PAT?

PAT is stands for "Portable Appliance Testing".

These instruments are made to test electrical equipment better than any other instrument simply because this is what they have been specifically designed to.

MULTIMETERS - Why is a PAT tester different from a multimeter?

Although a multimeter is a useful tool, its testing capacity does not meet the requirements of AS/NZS3760. A multimeter will not normally do a 500 volt Insulation Test or a high-current Earth Test for Class I equipment (earthed) nor a Leakage test. A multimeter will show if an earth is intact, but not its integrity

RCD's

An RCD (Residual Current Device) is designed to protect against electrocution in a narrow range of circumstances only. The RCD measures an out of balance between the active and neutral currently only.

It is quite common for socket outlets in commercial and industrial buildings to be unprotected by Residual Current Devices, known as RCD’s. Cleaners, trades people and others visiting offices or workplace sites could be at risk of electric shocks if a fault occurs in an electrical appliance such as vacuum cleaner or drill when it is connected to a socket outlet that is not protected by an RCD.

Any socket outlet which may be used for portable and handheld equipment requires protection from an RCD which is easily fitted to your standard. It is simply madness not to have one!!

SECOND-HAND ITEMS

Does second-hand electrical equipment require testing?

The OCEI (Office of Chief Electrical Inspector) has initiated a program to ensure that all relevant suppliers of second-hand electrical equipment sold to the general public are required to ensure that these items are tested and appropriately labelled.

You will notice that Charity shops and most Op Shops no longer sell second-hand electrical equipment now that awareness has been made of the risks involved.

GENERATORS THAT ARE UNSAFE

Has your generator been earthed? All generators should be earthed at all times. It is easy to overlook this simple safety action when starting up a generator. A 240 Volt generator conducts the same type of power as supplied to your location, earthing of the generator will help protect from serious injury.

POWER SUPPLIES

Some importers of extra-low voltage electrical devices may be supplying them together with unapproved and potentially dangerous power supplies or chargers. If you have a suspect item, please discontinue its use immediately or have it tested. Dangerous power supplies and battery chargers that are typically found with electronic games, cordless drills, rechargeable torches, etc. must be tested and approved for supply in Australia. Approved devices must exhibit the approval markings allocated by the approving authority. The markings may be alphanumeric format comprising of the first letter of the state of the issuing authority followed by between one and six digits.

Non compliant power supplies pose serious risks including electric shock, fire and damage to connected equipment.

INTERNATIONAL ADAPTORS

Travel adaptors used to accommodate non-standard plug-pin configuration may in themselves by poorly designed and constructed, proving a hazard in itself. Make sure that they comply.

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Won’t the circuit breaker in the switchboard protect me from electrical shock?

People should be aware that the fuses or circuit breakers on your switchboard are not designed to protect you from electrical shock, they are designed to protect the circuit wiring of the building from fire and short circuit.

EARTH LEAKAGE CURRENT DEVICES

Earth Leakage Current Devices are designed to protect appliances and persons from electrocution when a fault occurs. These should be checked on a regular basis.

DOUBLE INSULATED (2 PIN) APPLIANCES

What is a double insulated appliance? E.g. a drill, angle grinder, kitchen appliances, that only has two pins (an active and a neutral) and sometimes may have an earth pin which is not connected. These items usually have the markings of a square box within a square box or double D, stating that it is double insulated.

Double insulated appliances will not trip the Earth Leakage detector.

RCD PORTABLE UNITS

Portable RCD units are recommended to be used when using any power tool inside or out as these devices are designed to trip in 30 milliseconds or under which will most likely save you from an electric shock and will trip before your circuit breakers.

POWER-BOARDS / DOUBLE ADAPTORS

Why can’t I piggyback power-boards and double adaptors?

Piggybacking of power-boards is not recommended as this causes excessive heat and may cause current overload. If you need to piggyback have a registered electrician install an extra power point.

Double adaptors are not recommended and should be replaced by an approved power-board with RCD fitted and surge protection device

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS3760

PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING - The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3760:2003 clearly defines the requirements of routine inspection and testing of in-service electrical equipment.

In-service testing is necessary for the safety of persons using the equipment and for the proper discharge of the obligations of employers and employees, as listed in legislation covering occupational health and safety matters.

The Standard specified the minimum testing and inspection intervals for electrical equipment.

Inspection and testing intervals can range from 3, 6, 12 up to 5 years testing schedules.

YOUR OBLIGATIONS

Legislation covering occupational health and safety places an obligation on employers and employees to ensure the safety of all persons in the workplace.

Owners, Managers, Supervisors and Employees alike must realise that they are responsible for safety in the workplace.

Faulty or damaged electrical appliances can KILL or injure in the blink of an eye.

In your own workplace YOU are responsible every minute of every day for PEOPLE’S LIVES.

• Friends and work colleagues
• Visitors to the worksite
• Doctors, nurses chefs, cleaners, school teachers
• Contractors, students mums dads and kids.

TEST & TAG WHY?

Why you need to have your workplace tested & tagged?

To avoid the risk of an injury to an employee, client or other third party. Compliance with Occupational Health & Safety, requires that an employer must ensure that any risk of injury from electricity at a place of work is eliminated or that the risk is controlled by regular testing, maintenance and inspection of all electrical equipment to ensure that it remains safe for use.

Records must be kept of all inspections made and maintenance carried out on all electrical appliances, specific details need to be kept as required in the act.

The purpose of testing electrical equipment is to detect any adverse conditions that could render it electrically unsafe.

TESTING AND TAGGING BENEFITS

• Increased safety for employees, clients and third parties;
• Reduced insurance premiums;
• Reduced liability;
• Asset Register and tracking systems;
• Repairs of equipment can be made onsite to minimise down-time.

FAILED ITEMS

What happens if electrical equipment fails the testing?

It must be withdrawn from service immediately and have a label attached to it warning against further use AND sent for repair, or safely disposed of.