Faulty electrical appliances and workplace equipment can cause fires, injuries and severe electrical shocks that can result in severe burns, fires or in the worst cases, the untimely death of an employee.
What makes it all the more tragic is that electrocution incidents are very much preventable.
Over time compliance standards in New Zealand have become stricter and further regulated. By law, test and tag procedures must be carried out by companies such as Fireco. These periodic assessment of electrical keeps Whangarei workplaces safe.
The goal with Test and Tag is to eliminate any electrical risks. The most obvious faulty electrical risks are often neglected, these include exposed wiring, frayed phone chargers are a common culprit, and really old outdated machinery.
Employer Employee relationships are all about trust. Making employees feel safe in a Whangarei workplace requires any business to build trust through effective and professional companies undertaking safety checks such as test and tag.
What is Test and Tag?
The term Test and Tag refers to the process of testing and inspecting appliances, equipment or machinery by a licensed electrician, using a Portable Appliance Tester PATs), that has a Pass or Fail indicator.
After the appliance or unit is tested, it is then tagged properly to determine if it still up to electrical safety standards. The tag is often a color coded sticker with the inspector’s notes, and safety test dates.
This process is used to minimize the risks of fire hazards or other electrical-related mishaps from occurring in the area where work is being done. It allows for better risk management, and it can keep down the insurance premiums of your organisation, so is good for the wallet too!
The Test and Tag process is a crucial safety net not only for high risk work environments but all work environments across Whangarei. Where electrical equipment is often exposed to the elements, whether that being moisture, dust, chemicals, water drips, vibration, static and friction. It is through this critical assessment that most frequently used electrical equipment and power tools are kept in good working condition.
What are the steps for a successful Test and Tag procedure?
Testing and tagging are involves a combination of several steps, not least getting in a professional reliable electrical company such as CDL Electrical Ltd.
The process involves a physical inspection of the machinery or appliance in question, to check for visual defects that could cause an electrical problem. After this is done, the insulation of the electrical components is examined for degradation. An electrician will check the surface of the appliance for any modifications and abrasions.
In offices you can typically find an electrical unit with duct tape wrapped around its wires. This means someone in the office has tried to fix an appliance the best way they know how, or is it trying to keep cables tidy. If it is the former, this DIY approach is not the safest method. The electrician will tagging this appliance as unsafe.
A Portable Appliance Testing device is used for a series of electrical testing under the Standard AS/NZS3760:2010 guidelines.
Electrical units that have passed or failed are properly labeled with an inspection sticker.
Finally, after the tagging process is done, and the appliance or machinery is logged in a system that can be accessed by the appropriate personnel.
There are many benefits in hiring professional electrical services for Test & Tag, and it’s not just for better insurance premiums. It is a process that can help keep employees site safe, and companies up to code with compliance regulations.
Fireco are used to handling small and large Test and Tag requirements. These can be charged either on a per appliance or a fixed price quote. Fireco are your electrical specialists.
