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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
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…………...Yes
this was really being used!! |
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Question: How can I ensure electrical equipment is safe? |
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Answer: AS/NZS3760 In-Service
Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment is one
Standard that gives general testing requirements for many situations. There
are also other Standards eg 3012 |
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Question: Who can test equipment? |
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Answer: The
testing of electrical equipment as covered by AS/NSZ3760 is not a 'prescribed
activity' and as such anybody who is ‘competent’ may undertake testing - you
do not need to be an electrician. |
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Question: How do I prove or know
I am competent to undertake testing? |
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Answer : An independent party
would need to
assess your abilities and/or provide
training to enable
competency. |
Qu estion: How
often should I
be testing my
equipment?
Answer: Requirements
vary for each
industry and
locations can
have multi-
classifications
within one site.
Click here to view
AS-NZS3760-TABLE
2:2001
and
Testing Table 4 AS/NZS:2003
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Question: If I choose to do in-house testing i.e. have someone test
equipment used in my workplace who is already on the payroll am I not using
a loophole in legislation? |
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Answer: In-house testing tends to
breed electrical safety in that people start taking responsibility for their
own equipment rather than saying the electrician should look at that next
time he’s here. Instead they will decide whether it is safe/unsafe. |
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Question: Isn’t testing by the ‘competent person’ inferior to an
electrician? |
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Answer: No – Many electricians
have spent little time, if any, in the design/repair or maintenance of
electrical appliances and therefore are often not as qualified in this
respect as people may assume. |
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Questions: What is a PAT Portable
Appliance Tester ? |
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Answer : There are electrical
test instruments that are designed for different tasks and to test
electrical appliances we believe the best instrument is one designed for the
job i.e a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT). These are virtually foolproof and
the results from these testers mean something. Surprising as it may be, many
electricians do not have these instruments. |
Link
to:
POINTS TO CONSIDER
when introducing a Testing Programme |
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Question: How often do I need to
test my equipment? |
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Answer: Sites and industries will
vary - as a guide
refer to Table 4 AS/NZS:2003
Link to Table 4 |
