Electrical Test & Tag

A business or business owner has the primary duty of care under the Queensland Electrical Safety Act 2002. In the Act this is referred to as a ‘PCBU’, which stands for ‘Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking’. A PCBU can be a person if they are a sole trader or self-employed, but it usually refers to a business entity such as a company, or an undertaking such as a not-for-profit organisation. The PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the electrical safety of workers at the workplace. This means the business or business owner must do what they are reasonably able to do to ensure the electrical safety of workers and others like volunteers and visitors. Duties, or responsibilities, are also placed on managers, supervisors and, workers at a workplace.

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For guidance we refer to AS/NZS 3760:2022 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCD's. However medical devices and non-medical electrical devices used in patient areas and patient environments are excluded from AS/NZS 3760:2010 and for these we must reference AS/NZS 3551:2012 Management programs for medical equipment. This important point is often overlooked. 

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Medical equipment/device – any instrument, apparatus or appliance, including software, whether used alone or in combination, together with any accessories necessary for correct operation, that makes physical or electrical contact with the patient……intended to diagnose, treat or monitor a patient

Patient area – Locations where it is intended that low-voltage medical equipment will be used on a patient

Patient environment – The space extending 1500mm around all possible patient locations

 

A requirement of these standards is that the following inspections and tests must be carried out by a competent person at fixed intervals.

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• Visual inspection of equipment and supply cords (AS/NZS 3760:2020)

• Protective earth continuity test (AS/NZS 3760:2020)

• Insulation resistance test (AS/NZS 3760:2020)

• Touch current test for Class 1 equipment(AS/NZS 3551:2012)

• Earth leakage current test for Class 1 cord connected equipment (AS/NZS 3551:2012)

• Patient leakage current test (AS/NZS 3551:2012)

• Mains contact current test (AS/NZS 3551:2012)

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For further assistance with fulfilling your responsibilities with regard to electrical safety or to make a booking please contact us on 1300 942 239

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