THE recent release of AS/NZS 5762:2005 requires testing and tagging of all electrical equipment following repair or service that affects the equipment's electrical safety.
This new standard effects all organisations and individuals that undertake repair, service or manufacturer's after-sale remedial action and covers anything from office equipment, kitchen appliances and white goods through to power tools, industrial equipment, and scientific and laboratory equipment.
The testing of repaired electrical equipment is necessary for the safety of equipment users and operators and ensures that employers are meeting their duty of care to employees or the public as required under OHS regulations.
AS/NZS5762:2005 requires that electrical tests and visual inspections are carried out after repair or maintenance, specifies that compliant equipment be fitted with a durable, non-reusable tag and outlines the documentation requirements.
The electrical safety testing procedure refers to AS/NZS3760:2003. This involves earth continuity tests on earthed equipment and an insulation resistance test or current leakage test for equipment with an electronic switch.
After carrying out the electrical safety tests, the service or repair technician is required to conduct a visual inspection to detect any mechanical or electro-mechanical faults that could cause harm to the user or operator. Examples include checking of mechanical safety mechanisms such as guards, tilt switches or interlocks.
Compliant equipment should be fitted with a durable, non-reusable tag with a recommended colour scheme of black text on white background and include job number, date and the name of the organisation or individual that undertook the repair work.
Non-compliant equipment must also be labelled or tagged with a recommended colour scheme of black text on red background and include job number, date and the name of the organisation or individual that will undertake the repair work.
Safety and OHS regulations require that records be kept, so test results can typically be recorded in a log book.
To help repair and service technicians meet their obligations under this new standard, Emona is offering an AS5762:2005 Compliance Kit.
The kit consists of the Seaward PAC3760 Portable Appliance Tester, AS/NZS5762:2005 compliant equipment and non-compliant equipment test tags and a log book for record keeping.
This kit provides the fastest and easiest way for organisations and individuals involved in service or maintenance to meet the requirements of AS/NZS5762:2005.