Tagging electrical cords

neilnruth · Guru

Tagging electrical cords

traveling bob · Veteran Member

they are suppose to be tested and tagged each 12months. Last time about 5years ago I paid $5 per lead

dropbear68 · Senior Member

Now this is just rediculous lol

Cruising Granny · Guru

I've never heard of it ever. My cords are oldish, 1998 and 2000 vintage. I look after them and they look in pretty good nick to me. I treat them very carefully and pull them out carefully.
I have a sneaking suspicion someone is connected to the electrician doing the checks.
You gotto watch these blokes in small towns.
I've been around a couple of times, or maybe more, and no one has ever made me check them.
Be careful.

justcruisin01 · Guru

All leads, power tools etc in the work place have to be tagged,& retagged periodicly, this has been in place for several years now. Even a new lead is supposed to be tagged before it can be used in a work enviroment, doesnt say much for the manufactures quality control.

Would not be supprised if private use is the next to be targeted. Just imagine having to do all house hold appliances, & its not cheap.

JC.

pricey43 · Guru

We have thought about this one all ready. The local Mens Shed has funding to train some of their members and to purchase the necessary tester. M.O.T.H is second on the list behind the co-ordinator and we have plenty of things for him to practice on.

smile smile smile smile smile smile smile

johnq · Guru

justcruisin01 wrote:
All leads, power tools etc in the work place have to be tagged,& retagged periodicly, this has been in place for several years now. Even a new lead is supposed to be tagged before it can be used in a work enviroment, doesnt say much for the manufactures quality control.
Would not be supprised if private use is the next to be targeted. Just imagine having to do all house hold appliances, & its not cheap.
JC.

Public bureaucrats will regulate it for private tenancies and tenants will wonder why rents rise. Eg to be checked by a 'professional' before every new tenancy.

Check the new requirements for labelling for cords on blinds - landlords are copping a $165 fee to check, label and 'make safe' (glue a plastic hook to the adjacent wall). Smoke alarms are the same - clean and check and new battery, $95 each, thank you.

No pollie would survive legislating same for owner occupied dwellings.

brickies · Guru

Queensland Tagging in the work place is only required on leads that are portable use , If the lead is on a fridge , computer, printer and so on tagging is not required but if the lead is being put in and out of a plug eg portable equipment leads must be tagged . my brother in-law is an reggisted inspector said lead that are removed from the plug by pulling the lead from a distance from the plug put a lot of strain on the plug the best way to remove lead from the power point is grab onto the plug itself

gypsy rover · Senior Member

Gee $32 is a bit rich! My son does test and tagging for $5 per item.

Cheers!

Chris

neilnruth · Guru

So Brickies we should campaign that all leads have that little grab hole in them like some manufacturers are now doing. It makes it so much easier.

brickies · Guru

It would make sence to do so , if you watch people most pull on the cord when removing it , and when you think about it it does put strain on the plug fittings , when I did a project mangement on an office refit the OHS people told me that why applainces that dont have to have plug leads pulled in and out don't require tagging only portable applainces because the strain put on plug, pulling it out all the time

Technomad · Senior Member

It is a good idea but leads for caravans should be tested by parks themselves at next to nothing, the bigger parks can afford to take this on and issue an appliance tag for 12 months. You don't need to be an electricin to do this , just the training. A token fee say $5 would help to uncover amatuer work and high light the dangers of fiddling without the knowledge of doulble poling etc and why in vans and motorhomes the cross polarity error when fitting plugs and sockets and those idiots that put single pole outlets in their vans, because they are cheaper at Bunnings is plain damn dangerous.

jimricho · Guru

There are a couple of regulars on the forum who have a good working knowledge of the AS Rules. I'm surprised they haven't posted yet as it would be good to "clear the air" on this issue.

One good reason I see for tagged leads is when a lead is damaged by a "dodgy" outlet on the caravan park's service pole. It would provide some evidence that the lead itself is not the cause. Most us who regularly use caravan parks have from time to time come across some outlets in very poor condition.

03_troopy · Guru

It looks like that is the case in NSW at least. From Workcover:

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING AND TAGGING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AT
A CARAVAN PARK?
The owner of a caravan park has a number of responsibilities under the Act and the Regulation:
1. The owner has a responsibility as an employer to any employees who work at the caravan park
2. The owner, as a controller of premises, has responsibilities to other employers who may use the
caravan park facilities (eg a shop leased to another employer)
3. The owner of the caravan park has a general duty of care to the residents, holidaymakers and
visitors to the caravan park.
The owner of the caravan park (as an employer and controller of premises) must therefore comply with
the specific requirements of the OHS Regulation to ensure a safe electrical installation and safe
electrical equipment.
This requirement extends to both the electrical installation, and any plug-in type electrical equipment
under the ownership and control of the caravan park owner. The owner must comply with the specific
legislative requirements contained in clauses 41, 64 and 65 of the Regulation.

Link to PDF

neilnruth · Guru

Thanks 03 troopy. That should explain it. The issue jimricho brings up about some dodgy power outlets is also important. We had to move from a site at a park recently because we could not get a constant supply of power. The box was one that had been used by some old permanent vans. It was dodgy with a capital D. Everything was pulling out and moving. It should never have been offered for use again.

KFT · Guru

G'day all

If there are any changes in the new work health and safety act that is coming into effect all over aus they will most likely be done through workcover and not via aus standards.

The following clause refers to caravan parks and gives the owners/managers an exemption from testing and tagging van leads

This requirement extends to both the electrical installation, and any plug-in type electrical equipment
under the ownership and control of the caravan park owner. The owner must comply with the specific
legislative requirements contained in clauses 41, 64 and 65 of the Regulation.

The park owner cn rightly claim that van leads are not under their ownership or control.

frank

neilnruth · Guru

But it would seem some are claiming they have to check them and pocketing $32 in the process! It was a park in Victoria.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

anybody know what is required to become a tester?

does one have to be an electrition?

I would like to do this while staying in a caravan parks and charge $5 a lead with all the money collected going to the RFDS.

Who would I contact to find out more about this?

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

03_troopy, just read your PDF and it covers this, thanks for the info

WHAT IS A PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTER (PAT)?

A Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) is an electronic testing instrument designed to perform a range of

automatic tests on plug-in type electrical equipment as outlined in the Standard AS/NZS 3760.

The results indicated by a PAT require no technical interpretation, however the instrument must still be

used by a competent person trained in its use.

WHERE CAN I GET TRAINING TO BECOME A COMPETENT PERSON TO UNDERTAKE

INSPECTION AND TESTING USING A PAT?

Persons wanting to be trained in the requirements of the relevant OHS legislation, the provisions of

the Standard AS/NZS 3760 and the use of a PAT should contact a registered training organisation

(RTO), which has developed a training course for this subject. For example a number of RTOs have

developed a recognised training course that covers this subject including TAFE who provide an eighthour training course on the Safety Checking of Electrical Appliance

03_troopy · Guru

No need to be an electrician, any competent button pusher can do it.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

well, I can push buttons biggrin

neilnruth · Guru

Go for it wombat and we can all get our leads tested by you for $5!

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Hmmm I will need to rethink the price, just had a look at the cost involved to purchase a PAT and they range from $1500-$2500 so price would need to be $150 per lead biggrin biggrin

jack biggles · Senior Member

_wombat_ wrote:
Hmmm I will need to rethink the price, just had a look at the cost involved to purchase a PAT and they range from $1500-$2500 so price would need to be $150 per lead

Mere pocket change for someone like urself wommy.

I suspect that 'IF' it were legislation that all leads should be tested, lead theft would increase. disbelief

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

jack biggles wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
Hmmm I will need to rethink the price, just had a look at the cost involved to purchase a PAT and they range from $1500-$2500 so price would need to be $150 per lead
Mere pocket change for someone like urself wommy.

I suspect that 'IF' it were legislation that all leads should be tested, lead theft would increase.

it would be only pocket money if I could get a job, poeple do not employ wombats, only in a zoo and they pay me with food and a hole only biggrin

or maybe they would just take the tags

jack biggles · Senior Member

yes, well that would work, wouldnt it. I might become a tag thief - LOL

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

jack biggles wrote:
yes, well that would work, wouldnt it. I might become a tag thief - LOL

hmmmm yep, if you get too many you could then sell them on eBay biggrin biggrin biggrin

03_troopy · Guru

On building sites tags can be had from sparkie mates and some builders just fill them out themselves and attach them. Makes a mockery out of the whole system.

Edited for spelling.

-- Edited by 03_troopy on Friday 20th of April 2012 06:47:47 PM

pricey43 · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
anybody know what is required to become a tester?
does one have to be an electrition?
I would like to do this while staying in a caravan parks and charge $5 a lead with all the money collected going to the RFDS.
Who would I contact to find out more about this?

As I said earlier, there is a Test and Tag course you can do and then the testing machine has to be purchased. These vary from $1000 to $5000.

M.O.T.H is doing the course through Men's Shed. Don't know whether we can afford our own tester though to do as we travel. Would be a good fundraiser for the fuel budget. smile smile smile

Trapper · Member

Don't believe that if you get a cord Tagged today,it remains safe for a year,,,anything can happen to make the wires or insulation breakdown,always visually check before you use.it could fail tomorrow,,,