Is your workplace compliant?

As of April 4 ^th 2016, the Health and Safety at Work Act has changed.

The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to protect workers and other people by eliminating or minimising risks at work.

 

Electrical equipment testing

Most electrical equipment at your workplace must be tested. This reduces the risk to people using the equipment. It must be tested by someone trained and it must be tested with proper testing equipment. As an Employer, testing electrical equipment is part of your legal obligations.

 

Your health and safety responsibilities

Making sure your electrical equipment is operating safely is part of your overall health and safety responsibilities.

This will help you meet the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 .

Testing Standards

New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3760:2010 sets out all the requirements for:

• testing equipment
• tagging appliances once they’ve been tested
• recording test results over the life of the appliance.

You can buy a copy of the standard from the Standards New Zealand website .

If you comply with this Standard, WorkSafe New Zealand is likely to be satisfied that you have done everything you can to provide electrical equipment for a safe work place. If you don’t comply, and someone is harmed, you could be prosecuted.

You also need to make sure electrical equipment is safe under these pieces of legislation.

• Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 
• Electricity Act 1992 
• Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 

 

Which equipment must be tested?

You must test:

• all equipment that’s designed to be plugged into the low voltage power supply
• portable outlet devices or power boards
• flexible cords that are connected to equipment in high-risk environments, like laboratories
• portable transformers
• battery chargers
• portable heavy-duty tools
• residual current devices (RCDs).

You don’t need to test equipment if:

• it’s very unlikely anyone could get an electric shock by touching the item and the electrical ground at the same time, for example, light fittings suspended from the ceiling
• the equipment would need to be dismantled to be tested
• the equipment is fixed and is wired directly into the wall
• they are LAN cabling or mains outlets.

You don’t have to test the cables that go through your buildings. But be aware that, to keep your work place safe, you need to maintain all building services, which includes cabling.

You need to regularly re-test equipment.

Testing the equipment

How often should the equipment be tested?

The Standard AS/NZS 3760:2010 contains guidance on frequency of inspections and tests on electrical equipment such as electric cords, cord extensions sets and residual current devices (RCDs).

Using this Standard as a guide.

Construction and demolition sites
The Department of Labour inspectors will check to see tools and leads are within the current testing time-frame, which is usually every three months, and meet the appropriate standards. For example, multi boxes need to be compliant to AS/NZS 3012

Offices and retail stores
Every workplace requires its equipment to be tested, however, the frequency of testing in a tidy and well-organised office can be up to five-yearly.  Testing is required every 12 months if the electric cords and equipment used in your office or workplace is subject to flexing in normal use, open to abuse or used in ‘hostile environments’ such as exposure to conditions of moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals and dust.

Schools and Universities
The Electricity Regulations refer to AS/NZS 3760:2010 as a means of ensuring safety with electrical equipment. The Ministry of Education requires boards to comply with AS/NZS 3760:2010. In normal educational situations, testing every 2 years would be appropriate.

 Tagging tested equipment

The tester must tag all equipment that’s passed the test. The tag must include the date of the test, the person who did the test and the result of the test.

You must also keep a database of all test records, including the:

• asset ID
• test results
• sites and locations of equipment
• re-test dates
• asset description
• make
• serial number
• any additional notes.

Port Test & Tag supply you with a copy of this for your records when we complete your testing, we then remind you when retesting is due.

Electrical testing AS/NZ3760 Single phase testing test and tag Christchurch test and tag Canterbury Test & Tag Christchurch Test & Tag Canterbury Testntag Work place safety