APRIL 2011
Are You Compliant?
Vol 168
Ed: So who’s doing the inspections? Chris: The Standard says “a qualified person.”
When I asked Chris McKenzie what he would like to talk Ed: Qualified in what? about, I was expecting it to be about some new lighting Chris: Basically qualified and trained. The way we product. Wrong! do it is that we have a documented training process for Chris: Electrical safety. I think it’s imperative that our staff who are then deemed to be a qualified person people are aware of electrical safety in their business and to do the testing. The testing regime is quite also their requirements for electrical safety around all of specifically laid out and the Standard defines a set of their equipment – hired, purchased and in use in their results that you’ve got to achieve. Electrical safety is own kit. At the end of the day, make electricity your defined by the New Zealand ASNZ3760. friend, not your enemy; it’s a silent killer. Ed: But in reality, nothing’s going to happen to Ed: And this is it … this is not just for your safety or anybody unless something goes wrong, and then the the safety of the people around you, but in fact it’s a inspectors will point the finger? legal requirement now for any kit that you have? Chris: Yes, and unfortunately the way New Chris: Yes, there’s two main areas that people need Zealand has gone in its compliance regime is that, yes, to be aware of and one stems back to the Health and Safety Act, which has now been there for 10-12 years. It states that all portable appliances ( and the simplest description of a “p ortab le app lianc e” is anything that has a lead on it and plugs in ) in a workplace have to be tested and tagged. There are various requirements depending on the intensity of the use of those units. For example, if you have a computer that sits on your desk and is plugged into the wall and never comes out, then that needs to be tested and tagged every five years; if you have a kettle or a portable piece of kit, that should be tested at least every 12 months. A lot of institutions have picked up on it, but I think there’s a few that haven’t. In a hire situation ( which we are in ) every piece of equipment has to be tested and tagged on a three Chris’ man-bag has a purpose and what is in the left of photo is a small Seaward PAT monthly basis, and it must be tester which allows you to do simple tests. It’s a cheaper option than a fully automated unit which will print labels and do all of the paperwork for you. This inspected and checked prior to requires you to do paperwork externally, crayon and exercise book style. every hire.
NZVN on the web. Go to <https://sites.google.com/site/nzvideonews> for more news. P12 What’s available in solid state media? P14 Bargains for all P16 In action with the F3 P29 Rocket into the future
DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADVERT BOOKINGS BY WED 4 MAY ADVERT COPY BY FRI 6 MAY