Managing Retest Intervals for Mobile Services

Published by John Blackburn at 05/04/2019

Managing Retest Intervals for Mobile Services

Due to the mobile nature of their operation, businesses that provide on-site services away from their home base need to make special considerations about what retest intervals should be applied to the appliances used by their mobile team. Mobile Service Technician

What might be a suitable interval at the home base may not necessarily be suitable at the site the technician attends. This can create problems about meeting the client’s electrical safety compliance requirements in relation to the testing and tagging of appliances used on-site. This issue needs extra consideration when traveling across boarders and interstate.

If the site where the works are to be performed have a requirement for a shorter retest interval than what is applied the technician’s home base workshop, even though the testing and tagging of their appliances was up to date and the tags are current, they may be deemed out of date at the client’s site. The result is the technician might not being able to use their appliances or they would have to get them rechecked, often at a premium rate due to the urgency of the situation.

The easiest way to avoid being caught out is to check the site requirements in the days or weeks before the visit is scheduled. This information is usually contained in a “site induction” or can be obtained by the contacting the site Safety Officer.

Here are some workplaces where you might need to check your tags will be recognised as current / valid.

Construction and Demolition Sites

In most states the requirement is the appliances need to be tested and tagged every three months and a specific colour coded tagging system is used. RCDs used in PSOAs, supply switch boards, temporary buildings and on generators may require more frequent testing (more info). Requirement for NSW sites may vary.

Venues

We are getting feedback that public venues such as sporting facilities, entertainment venues, reception houses, public events etc, are becoming much stricter in their requirement for all electrical appliances to be tested and tagged prior to being used on-site. The requirements vary significantly and often the information provided only states the appliances must be tested and tagged with no reference to an acceptable retest interval. We have had many instances of distressed callers urgently seeking our services so they can proceed with their performance or commence works.

Queensland

The tagging of appliances in Queensland vary from other states. The technician must be a competent person and also hold a registered electrical contracting license. This means appliances tagged in your home state by a who does not hold an electrical license may be fully acceptable when used locally but might not be recognised in Queensland.

Heavily Unionised Sites

At sites with a strong union presence “site rules” might be vigorously applied. This often means they will only recognise testing and tagging performed by licensed electricians who are also a member of a union that has an on-site presence.

There are lots of other workplaces and industries that have their own specific requirements, so always check ahead of time so you don’t get caught out.

This information is general in nature, should be used as a guide only and read in conjunction with the relevant Standard(s), State and/or Federal Legislation, Codes of Practice and Industry Standards specific to your workplace. A proper risk assessment should be under taken before acting on the information provided in this document or any related material. Further information can also be obtained from your local Workplace Authority, Electrical Safety Authority or a suitably qualified persons. This article is copyright protected.

John Blackburn

John is recognised as an expert in the test and tag industry due to his extensive and broad experience that began in 2004 when he was responsible for equipment maintenance at his local SES unit. More info: https://acmett.com.au/john-blackburn-test-tag-expert/