The health and safety regulations in many countries including require that electrical appliances are tested and proven to be safe for use.
There are numerous types of equipment that require testing and then tagging every few months or annually to ensure that they are safe.
The interval between each test really depends on the type of the appliance as well as the environment in which it is used.
Most hand held or Pass / Fail testing equipment will visibly show a pass or fail which suffices for home and small office use.
However, complex equipment is needed to find out more about how a particular piece of electrical equipment is working and if it's safe to use in the long term.
Based on this the equipment then needs to be tagged.
User checks Appliance test and tag procedures usually includes the testing professional advising the user about potential signs of danger which can result in problems.
He will usually inform the user about how reliable the equipment is based on current resistor current flow, transformer efficiency and circuit board condition.
For instance, if a power cable is frayed or a plug is cracked, the user will be advised not to plug anything or use the appliance, but rather report this fault to the supervisor.
The supervisor can then relay this problem via a poster or a memo.
That said user checks need to be carried out prior to every operation but results are not recorded unless a defect has been identified.
Visual inspections This is usually a process which entails visually looking at an appliance, its plug and cable for signs of wear and tear.
The HSE claims that a trained eye can find 90% of the faults.
However, many times simply looking at an appliance may not yield reliable results in which case it will require disassembly.
Combined inspections as well as PAT testing At a few regular intervals all portable appliances need to be tested so that the degree of protection can be identified as adequate.
This is especially true in an environment where commercial products are manufactured.
A tester will also not only inspect electrical faults but also connected faults like faulty wiring and even identify things like gas leaks and leaks of hazardous materials which may compromise the quality of the products manufactured as well as the lives of the employees.
After inspections have been completed a tag will be assigned to each piece of equipment with a rating.
The rating will help users visually identify what precautions they need to take prior to using the equipment and how safe it is to use.
Testing and tagging are often two different processes carried out separately.
Appliance test and tagging is mandatory for most businesses.
The cheapest way to ensure everything is working as it should is to hire a reputed company that uses the latest equipment and trained personnel.
This helps you avoid potential disasters which could affect your insurance and legal standing.
You should also make sure that your appliances are insured so that repairs and replacements are covered.
It is also important to have an in-house inspector who ensures that everything continues to run smoothly and safely as well as help with general equipment maintenance.