The testing of appliances in the workplace proved to be worthwhile for one company in New Plymouth.

Having purchased two items of equipment for their operation from a dealer, the company electrician tested the items prior to putting them into service. It was discovered that one of the appliances had a manufacturing fault — the earthing conductor was not connected to the frame of the appliance. This meant that the appliance would have become live and the protective device would not have functioned in the event of an earth fault.

The potential for an electric shock was very real. “It shows that vigilance in this area pays off” said a company spokesperson.

The message is clear — proper testing of workplace electrical appliances can save lives.”

We have found this at PAT NZ too along with all the other failed items we find. The average fail rate for all PAT NZ customers is 7% and all these items have the potential to cause an electric shock.