powerTAG Services

What We Do

powerTAG Inspects, Tests and Tags all ‘plug in’ type electrical equipment in accordance with;

  • AS 3760:2003 Safety Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment; and
  • AS 3012:2003 Electrical Installations – Construction and Demolition Sites

Testing Procedure

Visual Test

Inspect the Appliance for any visual mechanical faults, eg:

  • Loose Connections
  • Broken Casing / Housing
  • Missing Covers etc
  • Mechanical type safety guards missing or disabled
  • Burnt pieces or burnt smell
  • Brush holder caps broken
  • Supply lead damaged (max 5m)
  • Plug type & condition (moulded or clear type only)
  • Missing or illegible name plate (construction tools only)

Extension Leads

  • Ensure there are no deep cuts exposing inner wiring and the should not be abraded, twisted or damaged to such an extent that the insulation of the inner cores is visible
  • No tape covering and repairs or cuts to the lead
  • Ensure the cord has not pulled out of the back of the plug
  • Ensure the grip holding the cord into the back of the plug is holding tight
  • Ensure the pins of the plug are in good condition
  • Plugs must be either Clear or Moulded type
  • Ensure correct wires are connected to correct pin / point
  • Ensure the length of the extension lead does not exceed the lengths stipulated in the table in the Code of Practice – “maximum length 240 volt cord extension set”

Power Boards

  • Ensure casing / housing is not damaged, cracked or broken
  • Must incorporate a safety switch (construction sites only)
  • Must be of robust construction (construction sites only)
  • Safety Switches must be trip tested every month or every three months depending on state laws (construction sites only)
  • The warning indication the maximum load to be connected to the device must be intact / visible
  • Check that flexible cords are effectively anchored

Power Tools and Plant Equipment

  • Ensure there are no deep cuts exposing inner wiring and the should not be abraded, twisted or damaged to such an extent that the insulation of the inner cores is visible
  • No tape covering and repairs or cuts to the lead
  • Ensure the cord has not pulled out of the back of the plug
  • Ensure the grip holding the cord into the back of the plug is holding tight
  • Ensure the pins of the plug are in good condition
  • Plugs must be either Clear or Moulded type
  • Ensure correct wires are connected to correct pin / point
  • All power tools must be fitted with a sleeve where the cord enters the tool to prevent excessive wear.

Illegal Equipment:

  • Damaged Equipment
  • Extension leads that are too long
  • Light duty extension leads (construction sites only)
  • Power boards without safety switches (construction sites only)
  • Double adapter and piggy back plugs (construction sites & manufacturing premises only)

Test Electrical Equipment with Portable Appliance Tester (PAT):

  • Determine equipment class in accordance with Australian Standards and Codes of Practice
    • Class 1 Equipment – Basic insulated, protectively earthed equipment
    • Class 2 Equipment – Stamped with words DOUBLE INSULATED or with Double Insulated Symbol
  • Carry out testing in accordance with instruction manual for powerTAG tester – Seaward Supernova XE 3760 plus
  • Apply printed test results tag to power lead of appliance not more than 30cm from plug
  • Inform appropriate person or persons of an equipment which fails testing procedure and requires repair or disposal
  • All test records and information then downloaded
  • Test results and data are provided and maintained in accordance with AS 3760:2003

Record Keeping and Reporting

powerTAG provide comprehensive computer generated reports which are available via email, or hard copy on request. We undertake the maintenance of your reports and test results in our database for a 7-year period, which is covered by an initial once only data entry fee. These reports, at no extra cost, provide a detailed asset register of all your equipment with location, make, model & serial numbers, which can be used for auditing purposes, depreciation & insurance claims

Risk Assessment

powerTAG, in providing further value adding, will participate and assist wherever possible, in the identification & resolution of strategies for electrical safety risk management.

Equipment Used

powerTAG test and tag all appliances on site using only the latest and most advanced technology and equipment available. The test results and all required information are printed on durable, tamper-proof, synthetic test tags generated by the tester.  We currently operate using a Seaward Supernova XE 3760 plus

Your Obligations

As an employer your are required to fulfil your duty of care and ensure that all electrical equipment it safe to use and is regularly inspected and tested to ensure that it remains safe to use.  Below is a table which was formed from information from the Australian Standards Code 3760:2003 and the NSW Code of Practice, it breaks down the environments in which the electrical equipment is being used and states the re-test intervals which are required for each type of environment.  The table is only to be used as a guide and powerTAG will assess each workplace individually and decide which category the environment fits in to and any re-test intervals.

Testing Intervals

This table is to be used as a guide only. Information is gathered from Australian Standards/New Zealand Standards 3760:2003 – In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
 





Type of equipment and/or
equipment
 
(a)

Interval between inspection and tests

Class of Equipment

Residual Current Devices (RCDs)




Cord sets and
power boards
 
(h)
Class I


(protectively earthed)
(b)		 Class II


(double insulated)
(c)		 Push-button test - by user

Operating time & push button test

Portable
(d)

Fixed
(e)

 Portable
(f)		 Fixed
(g)
 

1. Factories, workshops, places of work or repair, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance or fabrication.

  

6 months

 12 months Daily, or before every use, whichever
is the longer		 6 months 12 months 12 months

6 months
 

2. Environment where the equipment or supply flexible cord is subject to flexing in normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a hostile environment.

  

12 months

 12 months 3 months 6 months 12 months 12 months 12 months
 

3. Environment where the equipment or supply cord is NOT subject to flexing in normal use and is NOT open to abuse and is NOT in a hostile environment.

  
5 years 5 years 3 months

6 months

 2 years 2 years 5 years
 

4. Residential type areas of: hotels, residential institutions, motels, boarding houses, halls, hostels accommodation houses, and the like.

  
2 years 2 years

6 months

6 months

 2 years 2 years 2 years

All Workplaces

In accordance with the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002, an Employer or Self Employed person must ensure that all electrical cables at the workplace are:

  • Located where they are not likely to suffer damage: or
  • Protected against damage

Construction Work

All ‘plug in’ electrical equipment is required to be inspected and tested on a 3 month cycle in accordance with AS/NZS 3012:2003.

  • Testing must be carried out by a competent licensed person
  • Records of inspections and tests must be kept for 7 years and include;
    • A register of all equipment;
    • A record of formal inspection and tests
    • Repair register; and
    • A record of faulty equipment
  • Non-compliant equipment must be withdrawn from service immediately, a warning label attached and sent for repair, disposal or destruction by an authorised repair agent or service personnel
  • Compliant equipment must be tagged with a durable, non-reusable, non-metallic tag
  • New equipment must be tested and tagged with the next test date and name of the person or company who performed the test
  • All power points on portable power boards must be protected by an RCD

Manufacturing Work

All ‘plug in’ electrical equipment is required to be inspected and tested on a regular basis in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2003;

  • If the equipment is Double Insulated at least once every 12 months; or
  • If the equipment is not Double Insulated at least once every 6 months

The equipment must be connected to a Type 1 Safety Switch, or Type 2 Safety Switch which must have the operating time tested every 12 months

  • Testing must be carried out by a competent licensed person
  • Records of inspections and tests must be kept for 7 years and include;
    • A register of all equipment;
    • A record of formal inspection and tests
    • Repair register; and
    • A record of faulty equipment
  • Non-compliant equipment must be withdrawn from service immediately, a warning label attached and sent for repair, disposal or destruction
  • Compliant equipment must be tagged with a durable, non-reusable, non-metallic tag
  • New equipment must be tested and tagged with the next test date and name of the person or company who performed the test
  • Double Adaptors and Piggyback plugs are prohibited

Service Work

All ‘plug in’ electrical equipment is required to be inspected and tested on a 12 month cycle in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2003

The equipment must be connected to a Type 1 Safety Switch, or Type 2 Safety Switch which must have the operating time tested every 12 months

  • Testing must be carried out by a competent licensed person
  • Records of inspections and tests must be kept for 7 years and include;
    • A register of all equipment;
    • A record of formal inspection and tests
    • Repair register; and
    • A record of faulty equipment
  • Non-compliant equipment must be withdrawn from service immediately, a warning label attached and sent for repair, disposal or destruction by an authorised repair agent or service personnel
  • Compliant equipment must be tagged with a durable, non-reusable, non-metallic tag
  • New equipment must be tested and tagged with the next test date and name of the person or company who performed the test

Office Work

All ‘plug in’ electrical equipment is required to be inspected and tested on a 5 year cycle in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2003

The equipment must be connected to a Type 1 Safety Switch, or Type 2 Safety Switch which must have the operating time tested every 24 months.

  • Testing must be carried out by a competent licensed person
  • Records of inspections and tests must be kept for 7 years and include;
    • A register of all equipment;
    • A record of formal inspection and tests
    • Repair register; and
    • A record of faulty equipment
  • Non-compliant equipment must be withdrawn from service immediately, a warning label attached and sent for repair, disposal or destruction by an authorised repair agent or service personnel
  • Compliant equipment must be tagged with a durable, non-reusable, non-metallic tag.
  • New equipment must be tested and tagged with the next test date and name of the person or company who performed the test

*information taken from Australian Standards/New Zealand Standards 3760:2003 – In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment; and the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/ElectricalSR02.pdf