Someone got a shock from a tool or lead?
Call 000 if they're hurt, and don't touch them while they could still be in contact with the power. Switch off at the wall or the main switch if you can do it safely, then take the item out of use and keep it aside for the electrician.
How often SafeWork NSW expects testing
SafeWork NSW calls an operating environment hostile when it's likely to damage equipment: moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or dust. As a general rule, it says plug-in equipment used in those conditions should be inspected and tested at least once every 12 months.
Some settings need more. SafeWork NSW gives the example of at least once every six months for manufacturing and workshop equipment, and for commercial cleaning gear. Construction sites follow AS/NZS 3012, and the general methods and intervals sit in AS/NZS 3760.
Two rules catch people out. Equipment that hasn't been regularly tested must not be used until it is, and second-hand gear should be tested before its first use.
Newcastle workplaces worth a second look
Sites that flood
City of Newcastle says flash flooding can arrive with less than an hour of warning, and names Carrington, Wickham, Honeysuckle and Kooragang among the low-lying areas sensitive to storm surge. Ausgrid wants floor-level equipment left off after a flood until it's inspected, and portable gear deserves the same caution.
A humid coastal climate
Average afternoon humidity at Nobbys is 67% across the year, and moisture is the first condition on SafeWork NSW's list. Leads and tools kept in sheds, garages or outdoor work areas have a harder life than the office kettle.
What your test record should show
- The name of the person who did the testing.
- The date of the test and the outcome.
- When the next test is due.
- Kept until the item is next tested. A tag on the equipment can be the record.
Don't forget the safety switches
SafeWork NSW also expects workplaces to take all reasonable steps to have their RCDs, the safety switches that cut the power when current leaks, tested regularly by a competent person. Ask the tester to include them, and keep that record with the rest.
Who can do it, and why an electrician helps
SafeWork NSW says testing must be done by a competent person, meaning someone with the right training, qualification or experience. That doesn't have to be an electrician.
The difference shows when something fails. A frayed lead gets replaced, but a scorched power point or a safety switch that trips under load is a wiring fault. Fixing it is licensed work in NSW that ends with a CCEW, and an electrician can do the testing and the repair on one visit.
What we'd tell a Newcastle business
Book someone who tests and repairs, so faults in the building get fixed the same day. Keep the record where the next manager will find it. And after any flood or storm surge, treat every lead and tool that got wet as untested until it's been checked.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.