Every employer has a ‘ duty of care ‘ to ensure the safety of their employees and other people in their workplace. If you are a solo performer you are self employed. That means you are your own employer, and your own employee. As such, you have a duty of care to ensure your own safety, and the safety of others in your workplace.Your workplace, like other contractors called in to perform a job, happens to be in clubs and pubs.

Every employer, under OH&S, should have a number of things in place. These include safe work practices and guidelines, and risk management strategies. Basically good old commonsense and awareness, taking into account the particular hazardsof your workplace, written down as a policy statement and a risk management strategy.

How does this relate to testing and tagging. Electricity can kill. Every year in Australia 50 to 100 people die from electrocution, and 50% of those in the workplace. You can’t see or smell it. Most time it gives no warning. And the average person knows bugger all about it or the equipment that runs off it. And yet virtually all workplaces use electrical devices. So how can a OH&S officer, with no electrical knowledge, take into account the electrical devices in the workplace.

Enter “ Testing and tagging of electrical equipment in the workplace.”
Workcover have in place rules and guidelines about the frequency and need for testing and tagging. For some industries, such as construction, the rules are very strict and clear, and vigorously enforced. For lots of situations, the need and frequency of testing and tagging is determined by the risk management strategy.

Back to the pubs and clubs. Even though you are self emploed, whilst you are working in a venue you are also in their workplace and must obey their OH&S guidelines. If these state all contractors must have all their electrical equipment tagged, then you must comply. Within 12 months, 90% of venues will require this. If you think you can ignore, sidestep or avoid this, think again. It’s here and you won’t.

Frequency of Testing and Tagging: Some industries have strict rules about this. Ours doesn’t. How often your gear should be tested is determined by your OH&S policy statement and risk management strategy. But most people just want to be told how often it needs to be done so they can follow the rules with a minimum of fuss. This is where some testers have taken advantage of the situation, or mistakenly applied the strict rules of other industries, and caused lots of confusion.

Ian Lowe, Workcover’s Electrical State Co-ordinator, has advised me that the majority of people in our industry, who own and operate their own equipment, could be classified:
Low Risk: 12 monthly testing.
High Risk: 6 monthly testing.

So whoever you get to test and tag your gear, make sure they are aware of the above and will tag for 6 or 12 months. Check before they start. If they swear it must be monthly or 3 monthly, don’t use them. BUT. If you turn up with gear that is obviously badly treated and in BAD condition, they may assess you as needing more frequent testing. Ian Lowe’s recommendations to me won’t apply to all. It’s up to you to show that the risk is low.

Electronic Equipment and PAT’s: Despite some peoples reservations, correct testing will not damage electronic equipment, including computers, in any way at all. Correct Testing. Some sparkies have been known to apply the same tests to appliances as they would to a new house installation. This WILL damage equipment. I recommend you only use testers who use a PAT (Portable Appliance Tester), these are foolproof and cannot harm your equipment. Anyone who wishes to know the technical reasons for this, including sparkies, please email me at john@jaybees.com.au and I will explain.

What to expect from your tester: Over the last 2 weeks I have heard all sorts of stories about the practices of testers and what they charge. Some are horrific! Make sure your tester actually uses a testing device, some have been reported as just giving the item a quick look and putting on a tag. Don’t accept this! Don’t use anyone who offers a cheaper rate if they don’t put their details on the tag. ( They often say they can’t put their real details on for a ‘cash no docket’ cheap price so taxation won’t catch them, this is utter rubbish). And never buy blank tags from someone who offers them, if you do this and put pretend details on you are stupid and deserve to be caught and fined. Remember this is about your safety. Most testers should charge a maximum of about $5 per item if you take the gear to them, less for larger quantities.

Anyone who has any queries about all of this can email me at john@jaybees.com.au and I will endeavour to assist as time allows. Thank You. John A Brown.

 

DISCLAIMER
The above information was obtained by phone from Workcover and the Workcover website. It is true and correct to the best of my knowledge at the date of writing ( 30th Nov 2003 ) but is intended only as a guide and must in no way be taken as a comprehensive coverage of the subject. Contact Workcover for further information. John A Brown.