1. Allowance for “New To Service” tags, containing specific information, to be applied to brand new equipment entering service for first time but not test and tagged.
2. Additional requirements for inspecting and testing welding equipment
3. Visual inspection process to include check for modifications to the equipment and it’s accessories, connectors and so forth

If the workplace is a construction site, then the Industry Standard for Electrical Installations on Construction Sites must apply (and also another document which outlines some of the changes to it).   WorkSafe has also developed a document answering Frequently Asked Questions on the standard.

Both the Electrical Safety Act, 1998 and the Electrical Safety (Installations) Regulations apply, as well the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1985. In addition, number of Australian Standards, including AS3760, are referenced in the Industry Standard, and so are mandatory.

For more information, contact your union

extracted from "OHS REPS @ WORKS - Electrical cords and extension leads"

This includes ensuring that the risk of electric shock from portable electrical equipment and appliances is minimised.

There are hefty penalties for employers and all levels of management where inadequate safety leads to the injury or death of a worker. Electrical testing and tagging forms a part of your workplace risk management system.

1. identify the hazards
2. assess the risk associated with the hazards
3. control the risk, and
4. review the process

When undertaking risk management, employers must follow the relevant Commonwealth regulations and give consideration to codes of practice. If no regulation or code exists in relation to a specific hazard or risk, employers should choose a reliable source of guidance to follow.

source - "http://www.comcare.gov.au/forms__and__publications/fact_sheets/electrical_safety"

Major electrical risks exist when insula- tion protection is not maintained in a safe condition or is placed in a hostile environment causing it to fail.

Circuit breakers and fuses provide some protection at times when suffi- cient current causes them to operate in the following situations:
• short circuits between live parts
• between live parts and exposed metal parts.

However, circuit breakers do not pro- vide reliable personal protection when one or both protections fail. These fail- ures could be due to a lack of regular maintenance, mechanical damage or being operated in hostile environ- ments.
In order to be effective as personal protection, a circuit breaker or fuse must operate before the potential dif- ference or voltage reaches a level high enough to cause an electric shock to personnel. This electric shock can result from any exposed conductors, exposed metal or other unrelated con- ductive paths (eg, water or dust).

The average-sized human will be exposed to approximately 0.2 amps when exposed to 240 volts ac. This can be potentially fatal within one to ten seconds. Therefore, reliance on 10 or 15 amp 'circuit breakers' as the only 'protective' measure for personal protection is often useless.

There is a high risk of serious injury to people, which is why normal circuit breakers should only be regarded as property, installation or electrical plant protectors, and not as personal protec- tive devices.

Conducting regular maintenance and testing of electrical installations and electrical plant will reduce the chances of an electric shock or fire. Residual current devices (RCDs or 'safety switches') have been devised for per- sonal protection. RCDs are efficient detectors of very low levels of electric current leakage from the active or neu- tral conductors to earth, and operate at speeds that provide total current shutdown before the current becomes a threat to the operator.