Test and tag programs work best when every relevant piece of electrical equipment is accounted for.
Large tools and obvious electrical machines are usually easy to remember.
Smaller everyday items are where many workplaces can develop gaps.
Extension leads get moved between rooms.
Laptop chargers disappear underneath desks.
Portable heaters come out during winter.
Power boards stay hidden behind cabinets for years.
Cleaning equipment moves throughout the building.
For Perth businesses, electrical safety should include the equipment staff actually use every day.
Here are nine commonly overlooked electrical items worth checking.
Table of Contents
- Why Small Equipment Gets Forgotten
- Extension Leads
- Power Boards
- Laptop and Device Chargers
- Kitchen Appliances
- Cleaning Equipment
- Portable Heaters and Fans
- Portable Electrical Tools
- Printers and Office Equipment
- Equipment Returning From Repair
- Improve Your Test and Tag Records
- Book Test and Tag in Perth
Why Small Equipment Gets Forgotten
Modern workplaces change constantly.
Employees move desks.
Equipment gets transferred between departments.
New appliances are purchased.
Older equipment is placed into storage and then returned months later.
Without an organised register, electrical equipment can easily disappear from the workplace’s safety process.
A good test and tag system should therefore be treated as part of a broader electrical safety program rather than simply applying stickers to equipment.
For official workplace electrical safety guidance, visit WorkSafe Western Australia.
1. Extension Leads
Extension leads can receive significant physical wear.
They are dragged across floors, wrapped tightly, stored in vehicles, stepped on and moved from job to job.
Damage can occur around the plug, socket or cable insulation.
Do not keep using an obviously damaged extension lead simply because it has an existing test tag.
Include extension leads in your test and tag equipment register where applicable.
2. Power Boards
Power boards are frequently hidden underneath desks or behind equipment.
Once installed, they may remain untouched for years.
Over time, additional equipment may be connected and the power board may become damaged or overloaded.
Regularly check portable power boards for:
- Physical damage
- Loose connections
- Heat
- Cracked housings
- Damaged plugs
- Signs of overloading
Power boards should never be treated as permanent wiring replacements.
3. Laptop and Device Chargers
Laptop chargers and plug packs can easily be overlooked during test and tag programs.
They move between desks, meeting rooms, vehicles and home offices.
Check chargers for:
- Exposed cable insulation
- Damaged plugs
- Loose connectors
- Cracked transformer blocks
- Heat damage
A charger that looks damaged should be removed from use until appropriately assessed.
4. Kitchen Appliances
The office kitchen contains more portable electrical equipment than many businesses realise.
Common examples include:
- Kettles
- Toasters
- Coffee machines
- Sandwich presses
- Small microwaves
- Portable cooking appliances
These items can experience frequent use and operate around water and heat.
Make sure workplace kitchen appliances are considered within your test and tag program where applicable.
5. Cleaning Equipment
Vacuum cleaners, floor polishers and other powered cleaning equipment can receive heavy use.
Cables are repeatedly moved, pulled and wrapped.
Cleaning equipment may also move between many rooms or work sites.
If external contractors provide their own equipment, businesses should still understand how electrical safety is being managed while that equipment is used on site.
6. Portable Heaters and Fans
Seasonal equipment is easy to forget.
A portable heater might remain in storage for most of the year before suddenly appearing underneath a desk.
Portable fans can be moved between rooms throughout Perth’s warmer months.
Inspect seasonal electrical equipment before returning it to service.
Look for cable damage, broken covers, damaged plugs or unusual operation.
7. Portable Electrical Tools
Drills, grinders, saws and other portable tools may be exposed to harsher conditions than ordinary office equipment.
Tools used on construction sites, workshops and maintenance environments can experience:
- Dust
- Moisture
- Impact
- Cable damage
- Heavy daily use
A structured test and tag program is particularly important where portable electrical equipment operates in demanding environments.
Businesses should follow applicable WorkSafe requirements and relevant Australian Standards.
8. Printers and Movable Office Equipment
Printers, shredders, laminators and other movable office equipment can also fall through the cracks.
Equipment may change rooms without the asset register being updated.
One simple improvement is to give each relevant electrical item a unique equipment identification number.
This makes it easier to track the equipment even when its physical location changes.
9. Equipment Returning From Repair
Equipment that has been repaired should not automatically disappear back into general workplace use without being considered within your electrical safety process.
Make sure repaired or previously faulty equipment has a clear status.
Staff should know whether equipment is:
- Safe to use
- Awaiting testing
- Awaiting repair
- Removed from service
- Ready for disposal
Clear processes reduce the chance of damaged electrical equipment accidentally returning to use.
Your Test and Tag Records Matter
A good test and tag system needs accurate records.
Depending on the workplace and applicable requirements, records may include information such as:
- Equipment identification
- Date inspected or tested
- Testing outcome
- Person completing the testing
- Next testing date
- Failed equipment
- Repairs completed
A central register can make it much easier to identify missing or overdue equipment.
For more detailed information, read our Test and Tag Perth guide.
Make Test and Tag Part of Planned Maintenance
Do not rely on somebody remembering when electrical testing is due.
Assign responsibility.
Maintain an equipment register.
Add new electrical items as they enter the workplace.
Remove damaged equipment from service.
Record repairs.
Schedule future inspections and testing.
For businesses that need broader electrical support, ACS Electrical provides commercial electrical services throughout Perth.
Need Test and Tag in Perth?
A strong test and tag program should include more than the biggest and most obvious electrical equipment.
Small portable devices, chargers, leads and everyday appliances can be just as important.
ACS Electrical helps Perth businesses with electrical testing, maintenance, fault finding and commercial electrical services.
Book Test and Tag
If you are unsure whether your current workplace electrical equipment register is complete, arrange a professional review.
Call ACS Electrical on 0419 967 838 or contact ACS Electrical online to discuss test and tag services in Perth.