Posts Tagged ‘Fail labels’

Failed PAT Testing Labels Prevent Possible Harm

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

There are specific tests required by health and safety regulators in the United Kingdom that have been established to ensure that electrical appliances in a variety of different environments are kept safe and operating at a standard designed for optimal safety for both an appliances user’s and testers. These tests, collectively called PAT testing, is a test designed to be conducted in a number of residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Depending on the level of potential risk involved, Portable Appliance Testing will be conducted at three month intervals, six month intervals, and sometimes at yearly intervals. Its important for anyone using or working in an environment where an electrical appliance is used to be able to tell how safe an appliance is, and whether it should even be used or not, and so PAT testing labels are attached.

Some Portable Appliance Testing labels are color coded, with green typically indicating that the appliance is safe to use, and red usually designated for a failed PAT testing label. It’s important to know the results of the test and to know how safe one is in an environment with electrical appliances, and color coding offers a quick and easy way for the distinction between hazardous and safe appliances to be made.

PAT testing labels are meant to be comprehensive in the sorts of information that they offer, and the most important information is whether or not the appliance should be used. A failed PAT testing label, as most commonly indicated with the color red, is probably the most important label to be able to recognize easily, because any electrical appliance that receives this failed designation is certainly not fit for use by the general public, and perhaps has to be discarded or repaired by designated individuals. Besides the several safety labels an appliance can receive, there is information about the tester, the date that the test was performed, and when the next test should be completed. There is also a place for the appliance I.D. number.
Whether an electrical appliance must receive a pass or fail PAT testing label is all dependent on the Portable Appliance Test itself. By observing the internal electrical components of a machine, a technician can decide if it’s safe to use. A performer of the PAT test will also be required to observe the power cord of the electrical appliance for any signs of potential bodily risk, and the environment that the appliance is located in will play a key role on the result of the test.

Without indicating, usually with color, whether an electrical appliance has received a fail PAT testing label, uses and PAT testers could be subject to possible bodily harm from the use of these electrical appliances. Electrical appliances are extremely commonplace, and their testing ensures that the thousands of people that are exposed or use these appliances are safe. The red
coloring of these testing labels is very affective in warding off potential users, as this color is very often associated with “stop”, or “danger”.

The Application of Pass Labels and Failed Labels

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

The inspection and reporting of the safety status of electrical devices in the workplace is vitally important in maintaining a safe environment. The introduction of the system known as portable appliance testing, or PAT, in the 1960’s addresses this issue.

This testing system employs the usage of labeling that is applied directly to the various wiring and electric circuitry found within so many of the machines and devices used in industry today. The pass labels and failed labels that are found throughout a factory or other manufacturing facility are the only deterrent to fires and other hazards which can have such a calamitous effect on safe operations in the work environment.
Pass labels and failed labels, along with the more generic “Tested for Electrical Safety” labels, provide not only a visual warning system that can be immediately assessed at a glance, but also provide a history of inspection and updates in the operation of electrical devices and machinery. The use of scanner technology that employs barcodes to indicate the safety status and the maintenance history of a particular device provide an even greater ability to prevent electrical fires and other hazards.

The inspectors who conduct these routine examinations of electric appliances and machines are of course trained and experienced in understanding power distribution through various systems. The abundance of electrically powered portable devices used in industry today ranges from hand-held tools and various communication devices to complex testing equipment. All of these contain wiring and circuitry that can initiate potentially catastrophic circumstances if they were to short-circuit in some way.

The employment of pass labels and failed labels seems simple enough. If a device does not pass
muster, it will be shown to have failed and needing repair or replacement before it can be placed back into operation. If a device receives a passing mark, then it can be relied upon to continue safe operation for the allotted period of time between inspections. This time frame is either 3 months or 6 months, depending on the frequency of usage and its possible affect on the environment in which it is used.

Labeling has evolved over the years from a simple paper label which carried hand-written information as to the identity of the inspector and the status of the device. Due to the potential loss of information on this type of label from normal wear and tear, a more durable label template was required.

The modern pass labels and failed labels are of much more durable materials, like plastic and innovative fabric meshes, which can withstand a great deal of handling and environmental impact, such as moisture and dust. These labels are often laminated to further ensure their reliability and extended readability. These improvements allow the inspectors to apply labels to a greater range of internal and external areas of electrical devices, thereby increasing the coverage of their safety inspection.

The application of pass labels and failed labels has always been a crucial aspect in maintaining a safe and hazard-free working environment. The innovations of new materials and scanning systems has also greatly increased the ability of electrical system inspectors to ensure a continued record of safe operations in today’s workplace.