What the standard coversĪS/NZS 3760 covers single and three phase (240v-415v) portable electrical equipment, as well as any machinery that is connected to a power supply by a flexible cord. What Do I Need to be Aware Of?Įvery workplace will have different requirements but to provide an example, let’s run through the types of things you need to know if you’re going to make your workplace compliant with AS/NZS 3760. So, if your electrical safety practice isn’t compliant with AS/NZS 3760, WorkSafe could find that you haven’t taken all necessary steps to create a safe workplace. This Australian Standard clearly outlines that an optimal way to ensure employee safety is through the tagging and testing of portable appliances.įor instance, if there is an incident at your workplace, WorkSafe will always measure your practice against the relevant Australian Standard. WorkSafe Victoria supports (and encourages employers to ensure compliance with) AS/NZS 3760 – In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment. In addition, in March 2015, Safe Work Australia published a revised Code of Practice, Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace, which provides practical guidance on how to manage electrical risks in the workplace WorkSafe Victoria and AS/NZS 3760 This includes identifying hazards related to any electrical equipment, assessing these risks and either eliminating or controlling these risks. However, it does confer a legal obligation on employers to take all reasonable steps to provide their employees with a safe working environment that is free from health risks (Section 21). The Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004) does not explicitly mention testing and tagging obligations. Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004) Let’s take a look at the laws, Australian Standards and regulations that cover testing and tagging requirements in Victoria. As an employer, this doesn’t get you off the hook if you haven’t conducted and testing and tagging in your workplace.

The problem with test and tag regulations is that there is no explicit mention of the need to test and tag in the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004).

Australian standard 3760