Electrical equipment inspection and testing procedure

This procedure provides direction and information for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), workers, apprentices, and contractors regarding the testing of electrical equipment on PEER Construction owned and operated worksites.

Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to provide a process to ensure the integrity of electrical appliances in worksites and the safety of personnel who use it.

This procedure applies to equipment owned by PEER Construction, employees, apprentices, and contractors.

This procedure does not apply to:

electrical equipment at a height of 2.5m or greater above the ground, floor or platform.
equipment which would need to be dismantled to perform the inspection and tests.
fixed or stationary electrical equipment that forms part of the electrical installation and falls within the scope of AS3000:2000 Electrical Installations (known as the AUS/NZ Wiring Rules).

When the equipment is new, the supplier is deemed responsible for the initial electrical safety of the new equipment.

New equipment need not be inspected or tested. However, it must be tagged in accordance with Clause 2.4.2. AS/NZS 3760.

Electrical equipment

Electrical equipment includes:

portable, handheld and stationary appliances, designed for connection to the low voltage supply by a flexible cord; cord extension sets and Electrical Portable Outlet Devices (EPODs) or power boards
flexible cords connected to fixed equipment in hostile environments
portable isolation transformers
residual current devices (RCDs) – portable type (PRCD), socket type outlet and fixed switchboard type
commercial and industrial battery chargers
portable and transportable 415v heavy duty tools, such as high-pressure cleaners and concrete grinders

Process

The process has the following components.

PEER Construction electrical equipment

Employees must ensure all electrical equipment is compliant.

All electrical equipment shall be electrically tested and tagged in accordance with the procedure and at intervals specified in AS/NZS 3760 unless testing interval has been varied by the completion of a risk assessment prior to use.
Ensure that a competent and appropriately trained person completes the electrical testing.
Test and tag any privately owned electrical appliances brought onto the worksite before use (e.g. heaters, frypans, crock pots, kettles etc).
Immediately remove from service and attach “danger tag” to any non-compliant electrical equipment for repair or disposal. Employees must not use equipment tagged as faulty.
Employees must complete documentation for identified faults and notify PEER Construction management.

Hired/loaned electrical equipment

Equipment hired/loaned by (or brought onto) the site must be inspected prior to hire/use and have been tested and tagged within 3 months prior to hiring/loaning. An inspection consists of a visual and tactile examination of the cord, plug and equipment to ensure their integrity, i.e. no cuts, breaks, burns or exposed wires.

Tagging

Compliant equipment shall be fitted with a tag which should identify the period in which the test was done and shall include:

the name of the person or company who made the inspection or carried out the test or maintenance
the test, inspection or maintenance date
a re-test date if required.

Equipment out of service

Some work areas place electrical equipment out of service and place into storage (known as mothballing) as the equipment is only used seasonally or infrequently. In this case, the equipment must be fitted with an out of service tag (as per the Energy isolation tags and lock off procedure) and placed into a locked storeroom or similar. When the item is placed back in-service the out of service tag is to be removed and the item only needs to be retested and tagged if the test date has expired. If there is no test tag on the equipment it must be retested.

Contractors

Contractors shall not use electrical equipment on PEER Construction workplaces unless testing of their electrical equipment has been carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 3760.

Record keeping

An external provider must provide a copy of all test results. Records of formal inspections, tests and repairs must be retained for a period of not less than 7 years.

Records of inspection and testing to be kept include a:

register of all electrical equipment
record of formal inspection and tests
record of faulty equipment.

Competent person

A person who has acquired through training, qualification, experience or a combination of these, the knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly and safely perform the task of electrical testing.

Hostile environment

An environment where the equipment or appliance is normally subjected to events or operating conditions likely to result in deterioration and or subsequent damage to equipment where electrical safety could be affected. This includes but is not limited to physical abuse, exposure to moisture, heat, vibration, corrosive chemicals and dust.

PAT Portable appliance tester

Residual current device (RCD) – a mechanical switching device designed to make, carry and break currents under normal service conditions, and to cause the opening of the contacts when the residual current attains a given value under specified conditions.

Roles and responsibilities

The following roles and responsibilities apply.

Managers and supervisors

Ensure:

electrical equipment and RCDs are tested and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 3760
test registers are maintained in accordance with this procedure
persons carrying out electrical testing and tagging in their area of responsibility and accountability is a competent person.

Employees

Ensure any equipment brought into the workplace is tested and tagged prior to use.
Report to managers:
- electrical equipment or RCDs that have not been tested or have expired test dates
- any faults in tools, equipment, or materials.

Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA)
Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA)
SafeWork Australia Managing electrical risks at the workplace – Code of Practice
AS/NZS 3760: 2010 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
AS/NZS 5762:2005 In-service safety inspection and testing – Repaired electrical equipment
Plumbers, Gasfitters and Electricians Act 1995

WHS policies and procedures

Version 1.0 – Last updated 19/2/2022