FAQs

OH&S legislation requires you to provide and maintain a safe workplace.
If you dont have your electrical appliances test and tagged on a regular basis, you have no real way of knowing if they are safe to use.
Test and tagging to AS/NZS 3760 is a widely recognised way to fulfill those OH&S obligations.

The test and tag process involves 4 core steps;

1. Perform a visual and physical inspection of the appliance.
2. Electrically test the appliance
3. Record the outcomes
4. Tag the appliance.

When an appliance is failed it must be removed from service and have a tag attached to warn against further use.
The choice of remedial action is then up to the owner of the appliance who may decide to repair it, discard it or take other actions.
If the appliance is repaired it must be tested and tagged again before returning it back into service.

There is no "standard rate" for test and tag services.
Rates will vary between contractors, regions and services provided.
To avoid nasty surprises, ensure you get a full list of all possible charges.
Click to request an obligation free quote Get a quote.

Here is a broad rule of thumb you can use as a starting point – if you plug it in, you need to have it test and tagged.
There are some provisions for certain appliances to be excluded.
ACME offers a free service to help you define the scope of your needs. Click to request your obligation free Site Assessment.

Yes, all your office appliances come under the broad scope of what needs to be test and tagged.
Keep in mind offices are usually low risk environments and longer retest intervals can usually be applied to the appliances.

When testing and tagging is correctly performed there is little, if any, risk of the appliances being damaged.
The process used by ACME for over 16 years has been proven to be totally safe.

When testing and tagging is correctly performed there is little, if any, risk of data loss occurring. In over 13 years and having tested and tagged tens of thousands of computers and other IT equipment, we have never had a report of any data loss resulting arising from our testing.

No. In Victoria the technician must meet the definition of a competent person as detailed in the standardAS/NZS 3760.
A competent person is not required to be a registered or licensed electrical practitioner. This may vary in some jurisdictions.

Yes. You can use your own in-house technician so long as they meet the requirements of a competent person.
Some workplaces use a combination of in-house technician(s) and external contractors.

The main factor determining the retest interval is the environment the appliance is normally used in.
The more hostile the environment, the more frequently they must be retested.
Indicative retest intervals are detailed in AS/NZS 3760 that range from 6 months to 5 years.
Some Industry Codes, Codes of Practice etc may require more frequent retesting or different intervals.

A hostile environment is one where the expected life-span of the appliance is likely to be reduced due to factors that include;

• dust
• corrosion
• exposure to chemicals
• humidity
• physical abuse

More info...

Yes. Electrical appliances used on construction and/or demolition sites must be test and tagged every three months as part of the Industry Standard - Electrical Installations On Construction Sites.
Site safety representatives will not allow you to use your electrical appliances on site unless they have been test and tagged and display a current tag.
Consideration must be given to other Industry Standards, Codes of Practice etc that may dictate other requirements. The best practice should always be adopted.
A colour coded schedule for the tags applies and must be followed. More info...

Yes. Electrical appliances that are hired out must be inspected before hire and test and tagged every three months. Responsibility for the ongoing test and tagging of the appliance(s) passes to the hiree during the hire period.

The term PAT is an acronym of Portable Appliance Tester.
This is the test equipment used by technicians to electrically test appliances as part of the test and tag process.

ACME holds Public Liability cover $20m and Workcover insurance in accordance with our contracting services obligations.

In line with ACME Test and Tagging policies and procedures when working on site, ACME and its technicians assume responsibility for safe work practices and the safety of the immediate environments.
A copy of our Safe Work Method Statements will be provided upon request.

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