Testing & Tagging electrical appliances: what you need to know

It’s fair to say that there will be various electrical equipment on your Construction site. To ensure your electrical equipment is safe and in good condition you should do daily inspections before use and have your equipment tested and tagged.

What is testing and tagging?

Testing and tagging is checking the safety of portable electrical appliances that get used in the workplace.

It involves two steps: Visually inspecting the appliance for any noticeable damage,

• cracked casings
• missing or damaged guards
• nicked cables; tape covering nicks or cuts
• dry and brittle insulation
• burn marks or signs of overheating
• RCDs not tripping when tested

And secondly, electrically testing it with a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT). Once tested and approved, a tag is attached with the following information:

• who tested it,
• the test date, and
• when the next test is due. 

Why do you need to test and tag?

Testing and tagging helps identify any faults or damage in the equipment that could potentially cause harm to workers. Any lead or cord that is damaged or that fails testing is to be immediately taken out of use and removed offsite. If you cannot promptly remove it offsite, consider other means like attaching a durable out of service tag so as to warn workers not to use that piece of equipment.

Who can complete a test and tag?

Inspection, testing and tagging of electrical leads and cords on construction sites are required to be completed every 3 months by a competent person. A competent person is someone who has the relevant knowledge, skills and test instruments to carry out the relevant inspection and testing. 

If the testing reveals any issues or something needs fixing then a registered electrical worker will be required.

What type of equipment needs to be tested and tagged?

In short, basically any electrical corded power tool or device. This includes any device or appliance that has a flexible cable, and a removable plug, and also includes both single and three-phase connections. 

Keeping you and your workmates safe at work is a priority, so make sure you are aware of the businesses testing and tagging requirements on-site.

The HazardCo App site review resource has a list of electrical controls that should be in place to manage the risk of electrical hazards.

Want more information? Have a look at our other blog on RCDs and Leads – protection against electrical shock.