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Electrical Hazards



Frayed cords, wiring faults, safety switches not working, earthing system faulty, incorrect wiring, exposure to moisture could all be potential hazards making your workplace/home an unsafe environment.



The most common appliances that require testing include:



i.e. all portable plug in appliances

However, there are also other appliances that also may be causing a danger:



RCD's



An RCD (Residual Current Device) is designed to protect against ectrocution in a narrow range of circumstances only. The RCD measures an out of balance between the active and neutral currently only.It is quite common for socket outlets in commercial and industrial buildings to be unprotected by Residual Current Devices, known as RCD's. Cleaners, trades people and others visiting offices or workplace sites could be at risk of electric shocks if a fault occurs in an electrical appliance such as vacuum cleaner or drill when it is connected to a socket outlet that is not protected by an RCD. Any socket outlet which may be used for portable and handheld equipment requires protection from an RCD which is easily fitted to your standard. It is simply madness not to have one!!



Generators that are unsafe



Has your generator been earthed? All generators should be earthed at all times. It is easy to overlook this simple safety action when starting up a generator. A 240 Volt generator conducts the same type of power as supplied to your location, earthing of the generator will help protect from serious injury.



Power supplies



Some importers of extra-low voltage electrical devices may be supplying them together with unapproved and potentially dangerous power supplies or chargers. If you have a suspect item, please discontinue its use immediately or have it tested. Dangerous power supplies and battery chargers that are typically found with electronic games, cordless drills, rechargeable torches, etc. must be tested and approved for supply in Australia. Approved devices must exhibit the approval markings allocated by the approving authority. The markings may be alphanumeric format comprising of the first letter of the state of the issuing authority followed by between one and six digits.


Non compliant power supplies pose serious risks including electric shock, fire and damage to connected equipment.



International adaptors



Travel adaptors used to accommodate non-standard plug-pin configuration may in themselves by poorly designed and constructed, proving a hazard in itself. Make sure that they comply.



Circuit breakers



Won't the circuit breaker in the switchboard protect me from electrical shock? People should be aware that the fuses or circuit breakers on your switchboard are not designed to protect you from electrical shock, they are designed to protect the circuit wiring of the building from fire and short circuit.



Earth leakage current devices



Earth Leakage Current Devices are designed to protect appliances and persons from electrocution when a fault occurs. These should be checked on a regular basis.



Double insulated (2 pin) appliances



What is a double insulated appliance? E.g. a drill, angle grinder, kitchen appliances, that only has two pins (an active and a neutral) and sometimes may have an earth pin which is not connected. These items usually have the markings of a square box within a square box or double D, stating that it is double insulated.


Double insulated appliances will not trip the Earth Leakage detector.



RCD portable units



Portable RCD units are recommended to be used when using any power tool inside or out as these devices are designed to trip in 30 milliseconds or under which will most likely save you from an electric shock and will trip before your circuit breakers.



Power-boards / double adaptors



Why can't I piggyback power-boards and double adaptors?


Piggybacking of power-boards is not recommended as this causes excessive heat and may cause current overload. If you need to piggyback have a registered electrician install an extra power point.


Double adaptors are not recommended and should be replaced by an approved power-board with RCD fitted and surge protection device