over kill

[rescue5271]

why is it that the government is over killing all that is done with in its departments,for example in the real world electric tagging of all electrical equipment would be done every 3 years but the government wants it done every year  and so a group has to fork out more money to get this done...Is this over kill?? I am sure that there are other area's that are the same that other members may know about.....

[chook]

No Bill the rules have changed, it depends on the equipment, location etc. For some items 12 months is the requirement. So its not overkill & its not group money its tax payers, so its not an issue

[rescue5271]

When did the rule's change??? I have just done the course and was informed that in all SA GOVEMENT site's they have to be done every year but outside of SA Government it's every 3 years....

[chook]

At about the same time AS3000 was changed last year, eventhough that standard has little to do with tag testing. At work we do it every twelve months, 6 months for high risk equipment & longer for real low risk stuff (low use office equipment for example).
In reality its all a scam, we also get thermograpy done & it doesn't prevent board fires. So when something happens management can say  "we did all we could".
At the end of the day its just the government arse covering(sorry risk managing), so just budget for it every year.
cheers

[rescue5271]

AS3000 may have been changed last year but did SA accept the new AS3000?? as we have not accepted the new AS1851.....

[Gilly]

Bill, I work in construction and on our sites, everything electrical is re-tagged every 3 months, as per AS3000.

[Fox Mulder]

well actually you are totally wrong with your reference to AS3000. there is no reference to any form of appliance testing in AS3000. that is the standard for Electrical installation, (wiring rules). AS/NZS 3000:2007 has been endorsed by all Australian states and territories, and New Zealand. The standard in question in AS/NZS 3760 is the standard for testing of electrical equipment, and yes it calls for different testing periods for the different classes of equipment according to their location

[chook]

Yep Fox you are right of course - as was pointed out in the post. However people started taking tag testing seriously about the same time as 3000 was released (coincidence). The problem is that the law requiring tag testing is not a standard but several acts/regulations, that use standards as a technical reference. An example is the OHS&W regulations, Electrical act etc. Very few standards are infact law! however it would be hard to defend a position that a standard was ignored and something went wrong.
As an aside SA has very loose regulations compared to somewhere like NSW, that is we are performance based instead of presciptive. So it really depends on the level of risk a hazard presents e.g that drill in the back shed that gets used once in a few years could be seen to present less risk than a professional builders drill. So it could be argued that tag testing the once in a blue moon used tool is a waste - as long as nothing goes wrong!
The other problem is in the world of safety there are a number of misconceptions & people making a quick buck (no offence to our tag testers comment not aimed at you  ), e.g guys who will sell you a whole heap of fire extinguishers, when in reality there is no need! or gas detectors that have more features than you will ever need.
Anyway enough said cheers