What is Test and Tag?
Careful inspection visually of each of the appliances for damages to connections, flex, covers and plug, and guards by a qualified and experienced technician is termed as test and tag. After the item is certified to be electrically safe, the technician inspects the earthing, insulation, and also polarity, ensuring this is also electrically safe.
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Test and Tag ensures compliance with workplace safety and regulations of electrical safety. Appliances that are portable like the kettles and power tools are handled most of the time by the workers and thus, open to hostile environment and abuse. This can lead to risk as they get prone to being unsafe electrically. Most of the territory and state regulations require these appliances to be tested and tagged so that their safety is ensured.
It is important that the workplaces demonstrate the safe systems of work when required. Due to this the technician keeps detailed records of the same.
Testing and Tagging Chargers
The Standards and Regulations do not differentiate between equipment owned by the company or by an individual. The testing and tagging of any equipment at the workplace is the responsibility of the owner and not the individual.
Testing and Tagging for Double Insulated appliances
The double-insulated appliances like the angle grinders, drills, and some of the kitchen appliances have only two pins, the neutral and the active. The plugs of these double insulated appliances can have an earth pin that is not connected. These have markings of a ‘square box’ within a double D or a square box. These indicate that the specific appliance is double insulated.
It is necessary to test and tag double insulated appliances.
What appliance needs to be tested and tagged at the workplace?
All the electrical items that are specifically designed for any connection by a supply cord that is flexible and plug top to 415v or 240v needs to be tested and tagged after it is inspected.
The listed items are excluded from testing and tagging
- Hard or fixed wired items.
- Items that exceed a height of 2.5meters.
- Those items are dismantled for establishing any safety operation.
- Sample items, demonstration items, or new stock in a warehouse or retail outlet.
Conducting testing and tagging in-house
If you need to conduct testing and tagging in-house you need to ensure you have the appropriate equipment and the staff needs to be trained.
Some factors to consider are
- Testing Equipment and also Printer
- Ongoing training for staff in testing and tagging
- Test tags
- Materials according to the standards
- Training in using the reporting software
As compared to outsourcing the testing and tagging, the in-house works out costlier. The outsourced service has the required insurance.
Types of Portable Electrical Appliances requiring testing and tagging
Inspection and testing and tagging is required for all the appliances that are portable and need to be plugged in and are plugged in to any power point that is less than ‘2.5’ meters from the ground.
Listed below are some of the items that require testing and tagging
- Desktop monitors and computers
- Laptop Computers
- Photocopiers
- Printers
- Staff tea and kitchen appliances
- Fax machines
- Extension cords
- Electric power tools
- IEC leads
- Powerboards
- Visual/Audio equipment
- Double insulated appliances
- Isolation transformers
- Portable air conditioners
- Fork lift chargers
- Electric cleaning equipment and vacuum cleaners
- Desk lamps
- RCD’s safety Switch
- Electrical equipment of 3 phase
Will testing and tagging damage the equipment?
No, as each of the electrical appliances is assessed before the inspection and testing and tagging is done.
How long does Testing and Tagging take?
The testing and tagging of electrical appliances can take up to a few minutes depending on the appliance. Before conducting any electrical testing, each appliance goes through a visual inspection. There are a number of electrical tests to be carried out before the appliance is declared ‘pass’ for the test and tag.
Who can perform the Testing and Tagging?
The listed people can do the testing and tagging for your electrical appliances
- A competent person who has the required training and knowledge on a continuous basis to undertake the test procedures and current inspection.
- An electrician who is licensed
Does second-hand electrical equipment need testing and tagging before reselling?
Some of the legislations specify that all second-hand appliances need to be tested, tagged, and inspected before you resell them. For any further information, you need to contact the Office of Electrical Safety.
How much does it cost to test and tag?
The cost structure for testing and tagging depends on number of unit tests that are completed.
You need to be aware that almost 5% of electrical appliances that are tested are ‘unsafe’. These can be the cause of electrical fire or electrocution.