
5 Benefits of Testing Electrical Equipment In Your Business
Your business, like the home, comprises many portable appliances.
Whether it is a personal digital assistant, cordless device, notebooks, laptops, or rewritable CDs.
These appliances—often subjected to harsh conditions—need to be tested and tagged to reduce or eliminate potential workplace electrical hazards.
Testing and tagging electrical components can go a long way in improving workplace safety and that of your employees including anyone coming in contact with the appliance.
If you aren’t sure what testing or tagging is or what you should consider, this article is designed to help.
But before we proceed, let’s understand what it means to test and tag electrical appliances.
What is Test and Tag?
Test and tag is a common and important procedure in the workplace. It involves checking the safety of portable electrical appliances like flashlights, power tools, cell phones, laptops, computers, cordless devices, wireless peripherals, etc.
Test and tag involve two aspects. First off, it involves visually examining the appliance for any fault, accompanied by electrically testing it with a PAT (Portable Appliance Tester).
After testing, the electrical component is tagged to confirm that it has been tested. The tag also includes details like who tested it, the date it was tested, and when the next test is due.
Here are some issues PAT testing technicians are on the lookout for:
- Frayed wires or cords
- Issues in the wiring
- Safety switches that don’t trip
- Earthing system faults
- Faulty equipment caused by moisture or exposure to harsh elements/chemicals
- Insulation resistance
- Earthing system faults
Here are a few reasons why testing and tagging is essential for your business.
1. It ensures Your Business is Compliant
In certain industries, you are mandated to conduct regular testing and tagging to meet OHS and other essential requirements.
If you operate a construction, demolition, or mining company in Surrey, then you’ll have to carry out PAT Testing Surrey regularly so that your business doesn’t violate the:
- Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974
- The Electricity at Work Regulation of 1989
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999
They often have hostile working environments, making it easy for an appliance to develop a fault during business operations. If you run a construction company, ensure you test all 110V equipment every three months. All industrial sites are required to test portable equipment every six months.
2. It Reduces Risk and gives you peace of mind
Testing and tagging portable office equipment can reduce the risk of electrical hazards that can expose you and your workers to burns, electrocution, shock, fire, or explosions.
Aside from reducing the risk of electrical faults, testing and tagging office appliances can give you peace of mind as you become confident that all workplace appliances are in good working condition and safe to use.
3. Duty of Care
Do you plan to start a construction company, this is essential for you. Testing and tagging are also essential for the demolition, and mining industries.
As a business owner, you are responsible for the safety of not just everyone working in your business but also those who visit.
Testing and tagging the portable electrical appliances used in your business regularly is a good way to fulfill your responsibility to your staff and customers.
Failure to do the needful to eliminate electrical hazards in your workplace can result in workplace injuries, for which you are liable.
4. It helps you save money
The goal of every business is to increase sales and minimize loss. Though testing and tagging your electrical appliances cannot help you make megabuck, it can ensure that you don’t waste money.
But how?
When you regularly invite a professional to test and tag your electrical appliances, you protect your business from the huge costs of electrical accidents and fires.
It also help you avoid the costs resulting from the loss of stock or indirect costs such as increased insurance premiums and personal injury claims.
In addition to protecting your business from such costs, testing and tagging can help you identify energy vampires and eliminate them.
If left unchecked, electrical vampires can cost your business a lot of money in energy costs.
5. Ensures that your work area is safe
Testing and tagging don’t only keep your employees and individuals visiting your workplace safe. It also protects your work area, including its accessories and stock, from potential electrical hazards.
Testing and tagging help you identify faults in your electrical appliances and fix them before it is too late.
Failing to identify faulty electrical appliances early can result in electrical fires. This could wreak havoc on your business premises, resulting in property loss.
Play your part by conducting visual checks before using electronics
Even if you’ll be contacting a professional, it’s important you carry out thorough checks before using electrical items in the office.
Conduct a quick visual check of your electrical appliances before each use. If an item has faults— no matter how small—don’t use it neither should you decide to check it out yourself.
Instead, call in the professionals to check it.
Using a faulty electrical item can put your business and its employees at risk of several electrical hazards.
You need to keep your company safe from employee negligence by educating them. Don’t let negligence be the reason why you have to lose so much money.
Your business might not recover from the loss.
Here are a few things to check when conducting visual checks on your office electronic appliances:
- Damage to the cable sheath
- Overloaded socket
- Damage to the plug casing and lack of insulation on the bottom pins
- Lost earth connection
- Damage to the casing of the electrical item
- Signs of dangerous connections
Conclusion
If you are fond of carrying out regular inspections while setting up your business premises, add testing and tagging to the equation.
Testing and tagging your electrical appliances will reduce the risks of electrical hazards. It will also ensure that you are compliant.
Make sure you contact a professional to conduct the testing and tagging for the best results.