Home | Environment

Having s safe working environment has become a legal obligationof employers

By: Stockland Preston

Read More About Environment

Having s safe working environment is now a legal obligationof employers
In particular performing test and tag on electric equipment is necessary to achieve this. Testing and tagging is a process in which all electric appliances undergoes testing and the results of the testing process logged and dated and ‘ tagged’ on the appliance.
It is daunting ensuring the health and safety requirements of your business to ensure that the work place is risk free for your workers. Employers in Australia are required by law to ensure that the workplace and any office appliances that are used in the place of workare not dangerousand without risk to the health of staff. Relevant information is available in Section 21 of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004). Ensuring safe equipment is one of numerous aspects that requires particular attention. 'Test and Tag' is the common terminology used to describe the process of ensuring that electrical equipment and appliances are safe to use in the workplace.

To get rid of any potential dangers or risks, employers (as a duty of care) need to identify any potential hazards and risks associated with equipment that may be used, and furthermore assessing any risks and introducing actions to remove any risks.

WorkSafe Victoria (australian) has advised that testing and tagging for all electrical appliances is now a general requirement as dictated by of Section 21(2)(a)of the Act. Prior to this,Previously, the Victorian WorkCover Authority indicated that all employers introduce a safety testing protocol, and further to this the testing and tagging of all electric equipment has become a compulsory part of numerous employer safety policies. Regular Test and Tag procedures are becoming increasingly adopted by employers to help ensure the workplace is safe for staff or contracttors.

The testing and tagging process is notvery hard, and any competent person can be trained in becoming a testing and tagging technician. The equipment used is normally (transportable|portable}, allowing the technician to go to the location of the equipment appliance, rather that the appliance having to travel to the technician. Equipment that is tested is subsequently “tagged”: recording the details of the results and the date of testing. The technician should also record details of all equipment tested, and the results.

There are two options that employers can select to “Test and Tag” electric equipmentto highlight any appliancethat is faulty and requiring attention. The first option is to outsource the work to a trained contractor. Test and Tag Melbourne has details of such contractors in Australia that can come to your work place and perform the testing and tagging to ensure your obligations are met. Option two is to do the work in house by ensuring that a staff member undergoes an approved course at a TAFE college and becomes appropriately trained in the use of Portable Appliance Testers.

How often should electric appliances undergo testing and tagging?
Section 2 of the Standard, AS/NZS 3760:2006 outlines the recommended frequency of inspections,although these can be modified depending on a risk assessment that has been carried out. For some equipment that is used very frequently or is assessed as high risk or equipment that is hired, the frequency|interval} of testing may be as often as 90 days, whereas equipment that is used less and therefore has a a lessor risk, the frequency can be up to. In addition any equipment that has been serviced, repaired or has just been bought is also required to be tested before being returned to service.

The following are the frequency guidelines for various types of electrical appliances.
- electrical equipment (including leads and other tools) used in workplaces should be tested at least every 90 days
- electric equipmentused in factories should be tested every 180 days
- electric equipmentused in offices (including offices in factories) should be tested every 3 to 5 years
- Safety Switches should be tested every month

Testing and Tagging has become a necessary part of company safety, so ensure that you contact your local authorities to make sure that you are meeting your legal requirements and providing a safe workplace for your staff.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Test and Tag MelbourneprovidingTest and Tag Services and Information for Melbourne, Australia

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Environment Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Environment
Sign Up for a free account.
Our other websites
All about SEO
Beauty Tips Forum
Submit Articles
Member Login
Link Us
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
Sitemap
New Stuff
About Us
Developer
Good shopping portal
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

counter easy hit

Powered by Article Dashboard