No. DEE ESWB-15-1-4
Authorised By: Manager ESWB
Title: Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment
Procedure
Issue Date: April 2013
Last Reviewed: October 2014
Next Review Date: October 2016
Page Number: 1 of 4
CENTRAL OFFICE USE ONLY
1.
Purpose:
The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that electrical equipment within Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) workplaces is tested and tagged to reduce the risk of
property damage and personal injury.
2.
Scope:
This procedure applies to all electrical equipment used at DEECD workplaces including schools
and central and regional offices.
3.
References
 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
 Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007
 AS / NZS 3760:2010 – In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment
4.
Definitions:
Competent Person:
It is expected that a competent person will:
(a) Be able to use test equipment safely and effectively
(b) Have an understanding of the dangers of electricity, leading
to an appreciation of the need for inspection and testing
(c) Have an understanding of the construction of Classes of
equipment, types of insulation and earth leakage current
(d) Have an understanding of the application of Australian
Standard, AS/NZS 3760:2010 – In-service safety inspection
and testing of electrical equipment
Electrical
Equipment:
Any item within the workplace that either is, or has the ability to be
connected to a source of electricity such as mains power, battery
power or generated power i.e. solar, fuel generated.
Health and Safety
Representative
(HSR):
An elected employee responsible for representing employees within
a DWG on matters relating to OHS.
Management OHS
Nominee:
A position nominated by the Workplace Manager to oversee the
operational aspects of implementing health, safety and wellbeing
initiatives, policies and procedures.
Workplace
Manager:
The Manager or Principal responsible for the school, central office,
regional office or other DEECD workplace.
5. Responsibility:
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are responsible for:
 ensuring all electrical equipment is identified, regularly inspected and tested in accordance
THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
No. DEE ESWB-15-1-4
Authorised By: Manager ESWB
Title: Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment
Procedure
Issue Date: April 2013
Last Reviewed: October 2014
Next Review Date: October 2016
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Page Number: 2 of 4
CENTRAL OFFICE USE ONLY
with the recommendations of AS/NZS 3760:2010 In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing
of Electrical Equipment;
ensuring that maintenance work of electrical equipment is conducted in accordance with this
procedure;
ensuring any equipment purchased or manufactured is designed and assembled in
accordance with relevant Australian standards
the provision of suitable resources and training for competent personnel to undertake for
electrical inspection and testing of electrical equipment;
ensuring records electrical equipment testing and inspections are maintained in the
workplace.
Employees are responsible for:
 notifying their Workplace Manager or Management OHS Nominee of any hazards identified
in relation to the use of electrical equipment;
 participating in routine visual checks of electrical equipment.
6.
Procedure:
6.1
Identify Electrical Equipment
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee in consultation with the HSR and
employees are to ensure that all items of electrical equipment in the workplace are identified and
recorded on the Electrical Equipment Register. Where the identification of electrical equipment is
done by an external contractor, the Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are
responsible for verifying that the Electrical Equipment Register or contractor’s equivalent has been
completed.
Electrical equipment may be identified as a result of:
 an inspection of all areas within the workplace (e.g. workshops, science laboratories, offices,
maintenance sheds, classrooms etc.);
 an incident, injury or hazard reported in the workplace;
 the introduction of new plant or equipment.
If an employee identifies an electrical equipment item as being unsafe, it is to be tagged out of
service and recorded on the Isolation and Tag Out Register (see section 6.3 below).
6.2
Testing of Electrical Equipment
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are to ensure that electrical
equipment is regularly inspected and recorded on the Electrical Equipment Register in accordance
with AS/NZS 3760:2010. Once tested, a tag should be attached to the cord of the equipment
indicating whether it has passed or failed, the date of the test and the date that it is next due to be
tested.
As a minimum requirement, an employee undertaking the task of testing and tagging of electrical
THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
No. DEE ESWB-15-1-4
Authorised By: Manager ESWB
Title: Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment
Procedure
Issue Date: April 2013
Last Reviewed: October 2014
Next Review Date: October 2016
Page Number: 3 of 4
CENTRAL OFFICE USE ONLY
equipment must have successfully completed the nationally recognised unit of competency,
UEENEEP026A Conduct in-service safety testing of electrical cord connected equipment and cord
assemblies.
6.2.1 Determine Testing Frequency
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee should determine the electrical
equipment testing frequency (in accordance with Table 4 in AS/NZS 3760:2010). The testing
frequency is to be recorded on the Electrical Equipment Register. Some examples of common
items of electrical equipment and testing frequencies are:
 Power tools – annual
 Portable electrical equipment - annual
 Kitchen equipment - annual
 Printers – 5 yearly
 Monitors – 5 yearly
 Photocopiers – 5 yearly
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee can contact DEECD’s OHS
Advisory Service on 1300 074 715 for further information.
6.2.2 Purchasing New Electrical Equipment
The supplier is deemed responsible for the initial electrical safety of the equipment, however the
Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are responsible for ensuring that all new
purchases met relevant Australian Standards, have been checked for any obvious damage, have
been tested and tagged after the first twelve months of purchase, and that all relevant information
has been recorded in the Electrical Equipment Register.
6.2.3 Introducing Electrical Equipment from outside the workplace
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are responsible for ensuring all
electrical equipment introduced from outside the workplace (e.g. from home) is tested and tagged
and recorded on the Electrical Equipment Register prior to use.
6.3
Isolation and Tag Out of Electrical Equipment
Where electrical equipment is identified as hazardous, the Workplace Manager and/or
Management OHS Nominee must attach an “out of service” tag, ensure the item is electrically
isolated, and removed from service as per the Isolation and Tag Out Procedure.
The Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee are to ensure that only a
competent person (e.g. electrician) is permitted to repair the electrical equipment and removes the
‘Out of Service’ tag.
6.4
Maintaining Records
It is the responsibility of the Workplace Manager and/or Management OHS Nominee to maintain
THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
No. DEE ESWB-15-1-4
Authorised By: Manager ESWB
Title: Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment
Procedure
Issue Date: April 2013
Last Reviewed: October 2014
Next Review Date: October 2016
Page Number: 4 of 4
CENTRAL OFFICE USE ONLY
records of all inspections and testing on the Electrical Equipment Register.
A record must be kept of dates, times and names of employees/contractors isolating and tagging
items of plant and equipment in the Tag Out Register or equivalent.
7.
Related Documentation:
Contractor Management Procedure
Electrical Equipment Register
Hazard and Incident Reporting Procedure
OHS Risk Register
Isolation and Tag Out Procedure
Tag Out Register
eduSafe
8.
Version Control
Version
Section
Amended
Amendment
Date
Created
2
6.4 & 6.5
Updated procedure to include the February
requirements of the Isolation and 2010
Tag Out Procedure.
EHU
3
All
Two yearly review as per OHS April 2010
requirements.
Minor
wording
changes.
EHU
4
All
Two yearly review as per the April 2013
OHSMS requirements
Change to heading to reflect
AS/NZS 4801: 2001 requirements.
Update procedure to include
6.2.2 Purchasing New Electrical
Equipment and
6.2.3 Introducing Electrical
Equipment from outside the
workplace
ESWB
4
6.2
Minor wording changes.
ESWB
October
2015
THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED
Author