Test and Tag Requirements On Construction Sites Victoria

Portable electrical appliances used on Victorian construction sites must be test and tagged at intervals no greater than every three months and a colour coded system for the tags must be followed.

Construction sites are considered to be a hostile environment and the therefore appliances on these sites are typically subjected to greater wear and tear that can lead to increased risk of electric shock to the user and other workers.

This graphic shows the tag colour system used for the three monthly retest interval schedule.

An easy way to remember the periods is each colour corresponds to one of the four seasons.

There is differing opinion as to when the retesting of the appliances is actually due.

Those attending unionised sites will usually find they are required to have their appliances test and tagged within the week either side of the change-over point for the new colour. For example during the last week of November and first week of December

WorkSafe Victoria have indicated their requirements for retesting are satisfied provided;

• the appliance has been test and tagged within the last three months
• the correct tag colour for the period it was last checked during is used

Requirements for the testing of fixed and portable Residual Safety Devices ( RCDs ) are slightly different. There are two methods that apply;

Push Button Test

The “push button” test involves pressing the test button and checking the RCD trips without “undue delay”.

This must be performed daily on portable RCDs and monthly for fixed RCDs

Trip Time Test

This test measures the actual trip timeThe time taken for a Residual Current Device (RCD) to trip (break the circuit) when a value greater than the rated tripping current of the RCD is detected. The measurement is recorded in milli-seconds. of the RCD and requires the use of specialised RCD test equipment

This must be performed monthly on portable and fixed RCDs however subject to meeting certain condition the interval can be extended to three monthly.

NOTES

Appliances and RCDs can be test and tagged by either

• A licensed electrician
• A “competent person”

Requirements vary between States / Territories and therefore tags complying with Victorian requirements may not be recognised even though they are current. When traveling across the border or to other jurisdictions, it would be wise to check prior to your departure.

References:

Industry Standard Electrical installations on construction sites (2011).

Standard AS/NZS 3012

Standard AS/NZS 3760