Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology

Faculty Workshop Group

PROCEDURE:EAIT Electrical Safety Test & Tag:

This procedure describes the process used by all Electrical licensed and other appropriately qualified personnel performing electrical appliance safety testing (test & tag) of equipment used within the EAIT Faculty. All testing, where possible, is to be performed using the Seaward PatGuard PT300 Electrical Test Units held within the EAIT Faculty.

This procedure is to be used in conjunction with the Seaward PatGuard PT300 Electrical Test Unit Manual, current Federal and State legislation and within the University guidelines.

1.Labeling format

1.1.All equipment, once tested is to be fitted with a barcoded test tag. Test personnel are to label the item using a unique,10-digit identifier in the Asset ID field. This number is based on the owner of the item, the date and a unique 2-digit incremental number as shown in Figure 1 below;

Unique 10-digit ID / N / N / d / d / m / m / y / y / X / X
School or Architecture / A / R / Insert date in ddmmyy format
(See 1.2 below) / Consecutive No. 01 to 99
AWMC / A / W
School of Chem Eng / C / E / Note: This 10-digit Asset Id identifier specific to the
Test & tag system and is not the items UQ Asset No. (where fitted).
School of Civil Eng / C / I
Construction Site / C / S
EAIT Faculty / F / A
School of ITEE / I / T
School of Mech & Mining / M / M
Personal Item / P / S
Faculty Workshop Group / W / S

Figure 1Test & tag label, 10-digit unique identifier format

1.2.Only the Faculty Workshop Group Electricians select a weekday date. To avoid duplication when two personnel are testing in one building, all other qualified personnel are to select a Saturday or Sunday date from the previous weekend(or subsequent weekends prior to this ifthey require more than 200 new labels in that week).

2.Retest Date

2.1.The retest date for electrical equipment is determined by its applicable use and not necessarily the name of its location. Retest periods are shown in Figure 2 below;

Appliance Type / Example / Retest
Construction Site Equipment / Any equipment taken onto a construction site(see 2.2) / 3 months
Workshop Equipment / Machinery, Power Tools, Welding Equipment, Extension cords, etc / 6 months
Laboratory Equipment / Power Supplies, Test Equipment, Soldering Irons, Microscopes, Test Apparatus, etc / 1 year
Kitchen Equipment / Fridges, Kettles, Toasters, Microwaves, etc / 1 year
Office Equipment / PC’s, VDU’s, Printers, Copiers, Shredders, etc / 5 years

Figure 2Electrical Appliance Retest Periods

2.2.Construction sites within UQ are administered by the principle contractor and as such will have their own label colour codes. Before testing any equipment for use on-site, contact the Faculty Electrical Workshop staff at

3.Test & Tag Database Records & Equipment Information

3.1.The Seaward PATGuard SQL Database resides on the EAIT Faculty network in \\tangerine.eait.uq.edu.au\patguard\PATGuard.exe. Contact for details. The levels of authorised access depend upon the username selected and include:

  • AdminAdministrator, password protected, (View, Add, Edit, Delete, Setup)
  • CoordinatorSub-administrator, password protected, (View, Add, Edit)
  • UserStandard user access, no password required, (View, Add)
  • All items are listed in the test & tagdatabase in the following structure;
  • Client:UQ
  • Site:Building Name (eg AXON)
  • Location:Room number in Bld No/Room No format (eg 50/S107A)

Any sites or locations added to the database must adhere to this nomenclature.

3.3.Maintaining accurate electrical test records are a legislative requirement. As such, all items should be recorded with the following information;

  • Asset ID:A unique 10-digit identifier detailed in section 1.1 above.
  • Description:A basic, meaningful description of the item such as Lead, AC Adapter, Power Drill, Scope, Power Supply, PC, Laptop, Fridge, etc.
  • Make:Manufacturers name
  • Model:Item Model No.
  • Serial No.Insert UQ Asset Tag No in xxxx/xxxxx/xxx format. Where no UQ Asset No barcode tagis fitted, insert manufacturers Serial No. if present.

3.4.Any item that is identified as overdue in the database but cannot be located should have its records moved to the “LOSTPROPERTY” location for that site. This will ensure that any overdue test reminder flags are not continually generated by missing equipment but allows for the test records to be re-associated with equipment if it is found elsewhere.

3.5.Where previously tested items have lost or had their tag removed, attempts should be made to locate their original 10-digit test & tag Identifier by passing any relevant information (such as equipment type, make, serial No. etc) to . If unsuccessful, a new, compliant 10-digit unique test and tag identifiershould be allocated to that piece of equipment.

3.6.For any equipment in the EAIT Faculty, other than personal equipment, that has a non-standard test and tag 10-digit identifier, the equipment should be retested and given a new, compliant 10-digit unique test and tag identifier in accordance with section 1 of this procedure. The existing, non-conforming tag should be removed and returned to the EAIT Electrical Workshop along with details of the new 10-digit unique test and tag identifier allocated to ensure that that the previous test records can be associated with the item under its new identifier. Where this is not possible, the old item will be archived from the EAITtest & tag database.

3.7.Any equipment failing an electrical safety test is to be tagged with a test failure tag (which states “Danger – Do not use”), removed from service or locked out and reported to both and the user or area supervisor immediately. All repairs are to be approved by EAIT Electrically qualified staff.

3.8.Any repair information is to be recorded in the “Notes” area of the test results for any item returned to service following repair. Information on any repairs should be sent to along with the details of the items 10-digit identifier.

3.9.Test results are to be downloaded from the Seaward PatGuard PT300 Electrical Test Units to the test and tag database within 1 week from the test date and only by approved staff that have been given authorised access to do so. All users are required to contact their local test and tag coordinator or to arrange for test data to be downloaded onto the database.

3.10.All test data is to be downloaded to a file prior to loading into the database. The filename should take the form PAT UNIT x yymmdd.sss where x = PAT Unit No., and yymmdd is the date in reverse 6-digit format. Once downloaded, the file will open for viewing. In order to subsequently transfer the data to the database, select the process option in the data view window.

3.11.Once all data is downloaded successfully to the database, remove all records from the PAT Unit.

4.Electrical Test & Tag Equipment Maintenance & Training

4.1.All Seaward PatGuard PT300 Electrical Test Units are to be returned to the Faculty Electrical Workshop for annual offsite calibration. Test equipment must not be used once the calibration period has expired.

4.2.All electrical test equipment loaned from the Faculty Electrical Workshop must be returned immediately after testing is complete or when requested by Electrical Workshop staff.

4.3.Annual test & tag equipment refresher courses are run by the Faculty Electrical Workshop to ensure staff are familiar with any changes in legislation, local procedures and/or equipment upgrades.

4.4.All Test & tag related enquiries should be directed to in the first instance.

Created by: Ray White 08/05/14

Document: PR-018-B

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