By: Cameron

Cameron — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 03:39:48 +0000

Your post raises several salient issues about regular testing and tagging of portable electrical appliances, and this includes computers and monitors, electrical leads and power boards. Sometimes employers argue that because offices are not classified as high-risk environments, then testing and tagging does not have to be done. The real issue, is risk management, and then assessing how cluttered the workspace is? This is normally addressed on a case-by-case basis. My company (tagtest.com.au) regularly uses a simple risk assessment of the office environment in educational environments such as kindergartens and child care centres, and this has been found to be useful before proceeding with testing and tagging. The main issues with office equipment normally stem from low-cost power boards with defective wirings/polarity and extension leads that are compressed by chairs etc. Again, all employees, clients and stakeholders have the right to a safe wokplace – and this definitely includes risks posed by portable electrical appliances.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:42:54 +0000

I am the Safety & Training officer for an Electrical company and the comments you make i hear all the time from our people and to some degree i think your right, the 4 years you spend at TAFE to learn the job and the safety of the job should be enough to allow you to use your initiative to work safely? Im sorry to say that this may have been the case in old times but these days you cant rely on everyone to use their initiative, we had a sparkie who had been in the industry for 6 years and didnt even know what testing and tagging was!
Until accidents cease to exist and brainless people come into the job, task specific risk assessments will be right there with you….

Comments on: Former Sparkies Insights on Risk Assessment

By: Cameron

By: Kyle