Upholding Electrical Safety Compliance in South East Queensland

The process of assessing the safety of portable electrical appliances is commonly known as Test and Tag. It involves two main components: a visual inspection to check for any physical damage, followed by an electrical test using a Portable Appliance Tester. Once the appliance has been tested, it is tagged with a label that indicates when the item was tested, who tested it, and when the next test is due. In Australia and New Zealand, the AS/NZS 3760 is the industry standard that provides guidelines and regulations for electrical safety testing and tagging. This Standard outlines recommendations for test and tag intervals, specifies who is authorized to conduct the testing and tagging, and offers general guidelines for the process. Recently updated in 2022, the Standard is now known as AS/NZS 3760:2022 and includes various changes.

An electrical safety switch, also known as a residual current device (RCD), is a crucial component of electrical safety. It constantly monitors the flow of electricity and detects any imbalances caused by faults or electrical leakage. In the event of a fault, such as a person coming into contact with a live wire, the safety switch quickly shuts off the power supply, minimising the risk of electric shocks and electrical fires. It provides an extra layer of protection by rapidly disconnecting the circuit, helping to safeguard lives and prevent property damage from electrical accidents.