When it comes to electrical inspections and testing, test and tag equipment are essentials. Some of you might be wondering why it is so important to inspect and test electrical equipment in the first place. It is the only way to identify damage, electrical defaults or wear and tear before equipment fails altogether. If you are someone who owns a business, then you know that this is especially important for you. All equipment that can be plugged into a socket needs to be tested as well as any equipment that is exposed to heat, corrosive chemicals, moisture, vibrations, or dust. This is where test and tag equipment comes in quite handy.
The first and most important thing to remember is that you or someone in your workplace must be qualified to accurately test and tag equipment. This can be easily acquired through training, gaining qualifications, or through experience. It is vital to have the right knowledge and skills for the job required to make sure you have the best security against faulty equipment. This person must do regular testing and tagging of equipment as well as check electrical installations.
How often you do this procedure really depends on a lot of factors like the nature of the workplace or any outside risks that could affect the electrical equipment. It is crucial that you cover everything you need to when it comes to the inspection and testing of all electrical equipment in the workplace as well as having a clear cut procedure and outline of the inspection. There are many standards for different fields and workplaces, you must make sure that you are following the required frequency for inspection and that the right testing is being conducted in the workplace. You should check with the law and guidelines in your local area to make sure you are covering everything that needs to be covered. Having the right test and tag equipment as well as knowing the laws in your area will allow you to plan the procedure out correctly.
It is also vital that you record all of your results. A record of every testing must be kept until the next testing is done to make sure that there is no dangerous electrical equipment left behind. A few of the things you should make sure to keep on the record is the person’s name who last tested the equipment, the date of the last test, the outcome of that test, and the date when the next test must be carried out. This is a great way to keep track of electrical equipment and the last state it was found in. An easy way to keep track of all this information is either on a computer, a book or on a tag attached to the equipment itself. Most workplaces will have one or more of these items to ensure they have a backup of these records. Having the right test and tag equipment in the workplace as well as carrying out regular checkups can mean the difference between workplace accidents and a safe environment.
