WorkCover NSW Chief Executive Officer, Jon Blackwell, today issued guidelines and a checklist to assist employers in fulfilling their responsibilities under the occupational health & safety laws covering the testing and tagging of electrical equipment.
“While the OHS Regulation 2001 requires all employers to regularly inspect, test, maintain and keep records for electrical equipment in the workplace, some employers, electricians and testing providers have been interpreting the regulations to mean that every item of plug-in electrical equipment has to be tested and tagged,” said Mr Blackwell.
“To clarify this, WorkCover has designed an inspection checklist which employers can use to identify faults, and at the same time, fulfil their obligations for the inspection and testing of plug-in electrical equipment,” he said.
“However, the checklist procedure cannot be used to test equipment used in construction work, hire equipment or equipment that has been repaired,” said Mr Blackwell.
“In these circumstances, the equipment must be inspected and tested in accordance with Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760:2001 by a competent person,” he said.
“WorkCover is working to ensure that compliance is easier for employers to understand,” said Mr Blackwell.
A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on electrical testing and tagging is available from WorkCover’s Assistance Service on 13 10 50, and website at
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au, as well as from local WorkCover offices.
Media contact: John Kirby, WorkCover NSW, (02) 4321 5474 or 0413186799