Test and Tag Intervals: How often should your workplace book in a Test and Tag?

Testing and tagging was implemented in Australia as a strategy to ensure the safety of portable electrical appliances in the workplace. It is also legislated in Australia. Specified electrical equipment and safety switches need to be tested at intervals according to the type of work they are used for. These testing intervals are different for each field of work.  

For construction work, testing information can be found within the AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites. For manufacturing, service, office, amusement and rural industry work, information is in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. 

Here we run through more information on who is able to test and tag electrical equipment in your workplace and how often it must be done.

What is a Test and Tag Inspection?

A Test and Tag is a method of ensuring compliance with Australian WHS and Electrical Safety regulations and workplace safety. The Test and Tag inspection is a process of carefully visually inspecting each appliance for damage to flex, connections, guards, covers and plug by a competent technician. If an item is safe to electrically inspect, the item’s insulation, earthing and polarity may be tested to ensure it is electrically safe.

Portable appliances such as power tools and kettles are items that are most frequently handled by workers, and are also the most open to damage and hostile environmental conditions – which can cause them to become electrically unsafe. Under most state and territory regulations, these appliances in hostile operating environments must be tested and tagged on a regular basis to ensure their safe operation.

Who can test electrical equipment?

Only a qualified electrician can test and tag electrical equipment. Within a test and tagging inspection, an electrician can determine if the electrical equipment is safe for use.

Please do not carry out a test and tag inspection yourself as it is an offence under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to repair electrical equipment unless you have the appropriate electrical work licence.

Recommended Intervals for Testing Equipment

After a Test and Tag inspection, a durable tag will be attached to the tested equipment that clearly shows the test date and the next scheduled test inspection date. 

The AS/NZS 3760 standard (table 4 shown below) should be seen as a minimum test and tag requirement guide. A lot of workplaces and company owners will have different test and tag frequencies because of their own risk management and OHS planning. 

For the most common environments, we recommend the following intervals:

Every 3 months: 

Building, construction and demolition - this requires the most frequent testing due to it being considered a harsh environment and therefore an appliance being damaged is more likely compared to other settings.

Every 6 months: 

Factories, warehouses and production - this type of environment isn't considered as harsh, but because appliances tend to be used constantly, they need to be tested every 6 months.

Every 12 months: 

An environment where the equipment/supply cord is prone to flexing or open to abuse - this is often referred to as a hostile environment, as the appliance can be overused and is therefore exposed to dust build-up, general deterioration and the weather.

Every 5 years: 

An environment where the equipment/supply cord is not prone to flexing or open to abuse - this is commonly referred to as a non-hostile environment - a typical example of this might be a company's server room.

Source: Test & Tag Training

For any enquiries in South East Queensland, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or contact us, here.

Electrical Safety During Severe SE Queensland Storms

Storms, floods, cyclones and unpredictable weather are all a part of life in South-East Queensland. To ensure you are ready for the storm season, you can follow our tips on how to prepare your home and property before it’s too late. 

As experienced emergency-response electricians, we are here for you when the unthinkable happens. Here we share with you what to do in the wake of a weather emergency.

Your Clean-Up Checklist

If safe to do so, it is important to clean up after a storm. 

• Listen to your local radio station for further warnings and advice.

• Report fallen, low or damaged power lines to the emergency services or your local electricity distribution entity and stay away from them.

• Stay away from electrical signs, street lights, electrical cables, foil insulation or other conductive material that may be lying around your house.

• Stay away and don’t touch switchboards if they are damaged by water, fire or if lightning is close, and warn others to do the same.

• Don’t do your own electrical work - it's illegal and dangerous. Always use a licensed electrician.

• If you have a solar power generating system, avoid getting on the roof unless absolutely necessary and keep away from solar panels and their cables.

Property or Connection Damage

If your property or connecting line has been damaged by a storm or flood, you may need verification tests on your switchboard, wiring, equipment and appliances to be carried out prior to reconnection to ensure the electrical circuits are still working.

A licensed electrician will need to perform this task and a certificate of test will ensure your local electricity distribution entity can reconnect your service. We advise you do not conduct your own electrical inspection as electrical danger can be present in unexpected places.

Solar PV Systems

If your solar PV system has been damaged, get a licensed electrician to inspect it, make any repairs and check it’s electrically safe before it is re-commissioned. This check needs to be done before other clean-up work starts around the PV cells and associated electrical wiring.

Even if the network supply is turned off, PV systems will continue producing voltages during the day, so the PV cells and associated wiring will be still live.
During a clean up:

• Do not attempt to turn off the system after a storm/flood/cyclone.

• Stay away from the solar panels and wiring.

• Have an electrician check the system.

While the sun is out, your solar PV system is generating electricity. Always treat the system and associated wires as if they are live.

It pays to have our number close by this storm season, for any enquiries in South East Queensland get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or contact us, here.

Electrical Safety Tips For Your Home This Christmas

As we welcome the time of year when the Christmas lights go up, the decorations come out, and a tinsel-covered tree becomes your home’s focal point, electrical safety is more of a priority. 

There’s plenty you can do to ensure everyone has a happy and safe Christmas at your house, including following our top five tips for electrical safety these holidays:

1. Check decorations before use

Ensure you check for damaged power plugs, loose connections and bare wires – anything that looks questionable on both old and new decorations. Although decorations may have been stored away safely or brand new, there is still opportunity for damage. If replacing bulbs in an existing set of Christmas lights, ensure your replacements are the correct wattage and all decorations are kept at least one metre away from any heat sources when turned on.

2. Keep an emergency electrician’s phone number handy

Make sure you can get hold of a licensed electrician when you need one. If someone is looking after your home while you’re away on holidays, they should have that number. We operate 24/7 to ensure we are here when you need us. It is also important to keep directions to your safety switch and instructions on how to identify and operate this should they need to.

3. Check your lights meet the Australian Safety Standards

Beware of buying Christmas lights and other electrical decorations in online markets or garage sales – you often don’t know what you’re getting. Some pretty dodgy products or decorations with different voltage allowances that can damage your electricals can make their way into Australia, so be alert for them.

TIP: Look for an Australian product approval number or the regulatory compliance mark on any lights you buy.

4. Turn off lights when they are not being used

Turning off your lights when they are not being used is especially important before you go to bed for the night. This is to avoid the dangers that come with overheating lights as Christmas tree lights should never be left on overnight. A good way to avoid forgetting is to buy a timer or lights that you can set on a timer, to automatically switch off at a certain time.

5. Avoid overloading your circuit

Specifically, when extension cords are used, ensure you are not overloading your circuit by maximising what your circuit is designed to handle. To avoid this, learn the typical wattages of your appliances, how many are in use on the same circuit, and think about how long the device will be used for.

Once you know how much power your appliances use, for how long, and how many simultaneously on the same circuit, you should refer to your circuit breaker to find out how many amps or watts it can safely load before it short-circuits.

If you would like to learn more about electrical safety in your home this Christmas, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here. We service clients across South East Queensland.

5 Simple Things You Can Do Now To Prepare For A Storm

Preparing for storm season is vital to protect your home. Here are five simple things you can do now to prepare for a storm and help reduce damage to your property this coming storm season.

1. Secure or store away outside items that could blow around in strong winds

Even large items such as outdoor furniture, trampolines, roofs and cars can be lifted or damaged in strong winds. Aim to tidy items in your backyard so you are aware of the location of potential hazards if strong winds or a severe storm is forecast. We encourage storing all loose items around your property, indoors or keep them tied down. 

You may like to include this information in your plan (refer to point five). Storms can affect your home even if you’re on holiday, so if you are planning to go away, consider securing these items.

2.Clean out gutters, downpipes and drains regularly

 Keeping your gutters and downpipes clear is important as blockages can cause water to overflow under the eaves and into the roof cavity. Focus on clearing the leaves from the valleys of your roof, as these will make their way into the gutters in heavy rain. 

Keep the drains around your property clear to help surface water move away and prevent water from pooling and entering your property. This included moving any pot plants or furniture that may be covering the drains.

3.Trim trees and branches that could potentially fall on your roof or car during a storm

Your safety is important so we recommend contacting a qualified (and insured) arborist or tree surgeon for advice if necessary. Have a qualified arborist inspect trees every 2-3yrs to identify any preventative action necessary. Root damage is a major cause of tree failure so take care when digging or excavating around trees. Remember to park your car away from trees if strong winds and severe storms are predicted.

We recommend checking with your local council about any guidelines or required consent applications.

4. Fix any roof damage

We recommend checking your roof* for major damage once a year or after major weather events such as storms or hail. If this hasn't been done, now is a perfect time. If needed, fix any cracked, broken, displaced or damaged sheeting or tiles. Dirt buildup should be removed as it can block the drainage channels on the underside of tiles. 

Check inside your roof space. Light shining through may indicate that your roof or sarking (waterproof insulation membrane) is damaged.

5. Make a Home Emergency Plan for your family that outlines what you would do in an emergency

Consider where you’ll go and how you’ll get in contact with each other along with any special circumstances or considerations for your household. Remember that storms and other emergencies can happen at any time of day so think about where members of your household may be (school, work, commuting), how you’ll get in touch with them and where you can meet up. Try to identify how you will manage in these circumstances and who you may be able to get additional support from. Make sure that everyone knows what the plan is.

If you would like to learn more about electrical safety in your home, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here. We service clients from South East Queensland.

*Please note, working on a roof is dangerous so we recommend you contact an expert tradesperson to conduct these damage checks.

Our Top 4 Electrical Safety Tips for Your Office

We have been visiting a few offices lately to refit lights, service air-conditioners and conduct general electrical maintenance checks. As we come into Spring and transition back into the office, after a long stint of working from home, we are recommending all our commercial clients to book in an electrical check-up. 

In the meantime, to help you stay vigilant, here are our top four electrical safety tips for your office.

Remember water and electricity don’t mix

Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. You can become electricity’s path to the ground if you are touching water that touches electricity - travelling through the water, you, and hitting the ground. It’s important to keep all electrical appliances away from water, this includes glasses of water sitting on your desk!

Avoid overloading your outlets

An overload occurs when you have too many appliances running on the one circuit. More specifically, it is when the electrical demand on the circuit is more than it is designed to provide. In your office, this may only occur when you have multiple staff members plugging in multiple appliances if there are not enough outlets in the desired spaces. You may be tempted to use power strips, extension cords or multi-tap outlets. Your offices will be wired to handle the number of appliances on the outlet, therefore you must avoid using more than this.

Use power cords safely

When plugging or unplugging your appliances to the outlet, you must do this safely to avoid any electrical harm. For common office appliances such as printers and desktop computers, we recommend you to take the following precautions when handling the power cord:

• Turn the device off

• Switch the appliance off at the outlet

• With dry hands, gently remove the plug from the wall.

Ensure electrical appliances are installed correctly

According to WorkSafe Queensland, the testing and tagging of electrical equipment must be conducted in the workplace to ensure the integrity of the electrical equipment. Specified electrical equipment and safety switches need to be tested at intervals according to the type of work they are used for. 

For manufacturing, service, office, amusement and rural industry work, information is in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. Or visit the Work Safe Queensland code of practice on Managing Electrical Risks In The Workplace, here.

If you would like to learn more about electrical safety in the workplace or book in a test and tag, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here. We service clients from South East Queensland.

What Is ISO Certified? And What Does It Mean For Ehlerth Electrical?

Organisations such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization) exist to keep a level playing field across the world. Ehlerth Electrical received their certifications for Quality ISO 9001, Environment ISO 14001 and Health & Safety AS/NZS 4801 and we are incredibly proud of our achievements in becoming recognised in our industry. Below we take you through what ISO is and what it means for us moving forward.

What is ISO Certification?

An ISO certification certifies that a management system, manufacturing process, service, or documentation procedure has all the requirements for standardisation and quality assurance. ISO is an independent, non-governmental, international organization that develops standards to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products, services, and systems.

ISO certifications exist in many areas of industry, from energy management and social responsibility to medical devices. Bottom line, ISO standards are in place to ensure consistency and quality. 

Each certification has separate standards and criteria and is classified numerically.

ISO 9001 Defined.

The certification ISO 9001 includes two components: ISO and 9001. Here's what each component represents:

ISO

As mentioned above, ISO refers to the International Organization for Standardization. This organization develops the standards, and it does to certify businesses or organizations. Certification is handled third-party and tested annually. 

9001

The number appearing after ISO classifies the standard. All standards within the ISO 9000 family refer to quality management. ISO 9001 is among ISO's best-known standards, and it defines the criteria for meeting several quality management principles. It helps businesses and organizations be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction.

What Do Our New Certifications Mean?

ISO 9001 

This requires us to define and follow a quality management system that is both appropriate and effective while also requiring us to identify areas for improvement and take action toward those improvements.

With this certification, we can now show that we have products and services that meet quality standards. 

ISO 14001 

This is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It provides a framework that we can follow, rather than establishing environmental performance requirements.

Part of the ISO 14000 family of standards on environmental management, ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard that we can certify to. Integrating it with or management systems standards, ISO 9001, further assists in accomplishing organisational goals.

AS/NZS 4801 

This is the Australian and New Zealand standard for safety management. This standard is the benchmark in assessing Occupational Health and Safety across management systems.

We are excited to wear our certification ticks with pride to communicate with our clients and industry professionals that we comply and maintain high, industry recognised procedures and standards.

If you would like to learn more about ISO or see their updated standards, visit the ISO website. 

For further assistance with all of your commercial electrical needs, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here. We service clients from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

5 Electrical Details You Should Know When Building A New Home

The designing and planning stages of building a new home can be both exciting and overwhelming. During these phases, it's important to understand some simple electrical components to ensure you aren't overlooking essential requirements that will help your household in the long run.

We all rely heavily on electricity so it pays to know how you can assist in the safety, functionality and organisation of the home. Here are five electrical details you should know when building a new home.

1. Wiring Systems: What One Will You Need?

A home's electrical system is composed of the electrical service, lighting outlets and a range of hardwired appliances. This is important to know when planning and making decisions regarding the electrics because your electrical service needs to be a sufficient size to match the needs of the people living in your house. Typically, 80 amps are adequate for a standard-sized house and household.

2. Plan For Convenience

To plan the electrical coordination of each room and where the features will be situated, first determine the position of the electrical outlets and wiring for your devices. We recommend getting the house plans and mapping out where the furniture and electrical devices are likely to be placed.

Outlet placement is a chance to get creative and optimise the home. During your initial consultation with your electrician, expressing your ideas from the get-go assists in creating a solution that best facilitates your ideal home.

3. Switch It Up

After planning your outlet placement, now you can get very creative with light switches and outlets without breaking the budget. Consider upgrading your lighting to LED lighting. This may incur an upfront cost, but it will save you hundreds in the future. For every $1 spent on electricity, you get 55 hours of incandescent lighting or 550 hours of LED lighting. 

For your outlets, you can install USB charging ports into the wall to charge devices that power via USB, such as most phones. Consider placing these in the areas of the home you are known to use these devices more, such as the kitchen when cooking, the office, or perhaps the bedroom.  

4. Consider Energy Efficiency

There is no better time to consider installing solar than at the planning stage of a new build. As the install is done during the build, it’s convenient for both yourself and the electrician as it saves both time and money. This also allows for you to plan the inverter placement. We recommend installing the inverter closer to the switchboard to prevent voltage rise in the local grid.

5. Plan For Future Maintenance.

Despite all planning, there is a chance you will need to make changes in the future. We recommend documenting or taking pictures of the wiring and switches in each wall and room before the plasterboards go on. This will be useful if any renovations take place in the future as they can help the electrician or trades-person to avoid damages to the wires.

For further assistance with all of your commercial electrical needs, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team via 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here. We service clients from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

SAFETY SWITCHES: Your Questions Answered

Safety switches are the household or workplace safeguard against electric shock. They shut off the electricity supply when current leakage is detected. In the event of an electrical emergency, safety switches avoid serious injury from electric shock and possible electrical burns by stopping the current flowing through the person. Not to get confused with circuit breakers, safety switches will only protect the circuit it is connected to, therefore it is important to have multiple safety switches installed within your home or office as there likely would be multiple electrical circuits running. 

We answer your commonly asked questions about safety switches below to help you identify if you are at risk.

1. Are safety switches and circuit breakers the same thing?

While both safety switches and circuit breakers appear to do similar jobs, they have different objectives. Circuit breakers quickly cut power when there is a high current fault or overload that may generate a hazard, whereas safety switches shut off the electricity supply when it detects a leakage to earth. Circuit breakers are installed to protect the circuit wiring on the premise, while safety switches protect the people. This is extremely important to prevent injury and save lives.

2. Can I install my own safety switch?

Doing any electrical work yourself is dangerous and illegal. The installation of safety switches must be done by a qualified electrician to prevent safety hazards. If you have any concerns around the installation of a safety switch, you can check the Queensland Government’s Electrical Licence Search (ELIS), here.

3. How do I identify if I have a safety switch?

It is beneficial to know if your home or office has safety switches installed to protect yourself and others. To do this, all safety switches have a ‘T’ or ‘Test’ button on the front face. This is the distinguishing feature of a safety switch in comparison to a circuit breaker. If you cannot identify a ‘T’ or ‘Test’ button on your switchboard, they are probably circuit breakers. We suggest asking your electrician to help identify them during your next electrical service.   

4. I can identify one safety switch, do I need more?

Yes! Consider having safety switches installed on all circuits in your home or office. This may include power points, lights, air conditioning, oven, hot water and pool equipment circuits. If you are unsure, during your next essential electrical maintenance check, ask if the premise is properly protected and has safety switches installed on all circuits within the home or workplace.

4. Can I test a safety switch?

Remember the ‘T’ or ‘test’ button on the front face of the safety switch? This is what is used to test the liability of the switch. Safety switches are not failsafe and you should conduct a functionality test every 3 months to ensure the mechanism continues to operate freely and is not clogged with dirt or other foreign matter.

The below functionality testing guidelines are supplied from the Queensland Government: 

1. Simply push the button marked 'T' or 'test'. If the safety switch flicks off and cuts the power to the intended circuits, it is working correctly.

1. Check inside your home to see which lights or appliances have been turned off. The circuits turned off by the safety switch test mean they are protected by it. If it doesn't turn off the power, contact your licensed electrician to check it immediately.

2. After testing, turn the safety switch back on. For circuits with a refrigerator or air conditioner, wait at two to three minutes before resetting to avoid possible appliance damage.

For further assistance with all of your commercial electrical needs, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team via 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here. We service clients from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.