Motel not having appliances tested.

We recently stayed in a motel in country NSW. Seeing the test tags on the electric jug I checked it. Last tested 19/9/2015. fridge and Iron also on the same date. The motel has 70 rooms.Which government dept is the correct one to speak with?

Comments

  • +202

    Are you that bored?

    • +7

      Waiting in the shadows to pounce.

    • +24

      yeah, must have been a great holiday.

      I wonder how often OP has their own appliances tested….LOL

      PS I see OP is a learner…Great start to OB…..OMG
      Im sure we will be hear from OP many times with frivolous issues

  • +86

    I'm assuming you're here because you're concerned about the safety of appliances that haven't been tested for a few years. And if you're that concerned, when was the last time you had the appliances at home tested?

      • +55

        you think you're the only one here who knows what 'test and tag' is for? lol

        • +2

          It's regulation introduced to make businesses more money right?

          • @Mr Haj: this!

            Both businesses that do Test and Tag and the issuing authorities.

            I do have a test and tag permit/licence but opposed to doing it for the same reasons as most mentioned here about your own appliances at home not being tested anyways.

      • +14

        Was it an environment in which its normal use exposes the equipment to operating conditions that are likely to result in damage to the equipment or a reduction in its expected life span?

        Many businesses test and tag out of an abundance of caution, not due to regulatory requirements.
        The motel may have changed practices or operators who do things differently, and conduct inspections differently to a mine site or a building site.

      • +10

        I would suggest using google to find the NSW test and tag requirements and read it before you potentially waste peoples time by making a complaint that could be irrelevant.

    • +7

      I think they ran out of tags tbh.

      • maybe they have a life…..

        • Or just underpaid.

    • +7

      the appliances at home tested?

      When I have a different family or guest popping in almost every day to stay overnight, most of whom i don't know from a bar of soap and have no investment in looking after my equipment, and I'm charging them for the privilege creating a duty of care, I'll start.

    • +5

      But appliances used by hundreds of different people are a totally different safety proposition from an appliance in the home. You don't know whose kids have played with it in a motel. And it will have had a lot more wear and tear too. And at home if it starts to play up (eg occasionally tripping the RCD) if it's your own you will generally do something about it.

      • +12

        But appliances used by hundreds of different people are a totally different safety proposition from an appliance in the home. You don't know whose kids have played with it in a motel.

        If it was tested and tagged yesterday and a kid gets the cable stuck in a sharp drawer edge and damaged the insulation today, how does tagging make it safer for the next 363 days?

        • Yep! Very true…

      • How many people are actually using the kettle in a hotel/motel? Probably a small amount of people. I've stayed in dozens and dozens of different hotels when travelling for work or pleasure and reckon Ive used the kettle like 3 or 4 times max.

        So these appliances probably get used less than the one at home.

  • +4

    okay.

  • +3

    Rriigghhttt….

  • +69

    Which government dept is the correct one to speak with?

    The Passport Office. Give them a ring.

    • +3

      Calls Passport Office

      Hi, I like to…call hangs up

  • +8
    • +3

      OP lives to post so appliances A-OK.

      Thank you for being a crash test dummy.

  • -6

    Ok Boomer

    • +2

      There those that won’t remember electrical appliances in the 90’s when we didn’t have test and tag… *coughs into tartan hanky*

      Old Mr 17% interest on his $12,000 house in the 90’s… :D

      • +2

        Old Mr 17% interest on his $12,000 house in the 90’s… :D

        Oh, OP that guy has his own meme.

  • +22

    It is important to get things tested and tagged. If a cable is frayed and goes unnoticed for years, then one day some kid that works there has to move a fridge and gets electrocuted and dies. It happens.

    • some kid that works there has to move a fridge and gets electrocuted and dies

      Well, he/she will not do it again.
      I guess that is why they unplug or switch off power before fiddling.

      • +5

        That can be difficult when the power point is behind the fridge.

        • The fridge would be earthed and it would trip the safety switch.

    • youre not wrong

    • +30

      Oh dear,
      Someone's gotten on their high horse without doing research

      For workplaces other than construction or demolition sites operations, portable electrical equipment and RCDs are not required to be tagged. However, there should be evidence that a maintenance program is in place.

      The frequency of inspection and testing varies for different work situations:  construction and demolition sites — the inspection and testing intervals must be in accordance with AS/NZS 3012:2003; and  all other workplaces — require a risk management approach to determine the type of inspection and if necessary any testing required.

      So really as long as they have a risk management approach documented they could be fine.

        • +7

          Whats WA got to do with NSW?

          because the electrical standard is AS/NZS 3012:2003;

          Want to guess what the 'A' in 'AS' stands for?

          though I believe NSW does require tags rather than external documentation

          • +5

            @SBOB: Albany? Am I right?

            • +7

              @Muzeeb: yep, and the NZ stands for North Zimbabwe
              Strange governmental alliance to align their electrical standards, but… hey, its a strange world

        • +1

          Where in your post did you state it was NSW?

          And as @SBOB has stated AS/NZS applies no matter the state.

        • +2

          So many 'friend' stories …….. so familiar

        • +4

          Hospital is a bit of a different standard than a kettle in a motel mate

          Stay inside. Lock the doors. It's dangerous.

    • +6

      They are required to be tested every 12 months

      incorrect
      Depending on the setting, AS/NZS 3760:2022 stipulates inspection and retesting intervals can range from daily, monthly, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years and up to 5 yearly testing schedules.

      Eg
      "Environment where the equipment or supply cord is NOT subject to flexing in normal use and is NOT open to abuse and
      is NOT in a hostile environment"….
      like say…an electrical jug sitting on a shelf at a motel…
      5 years is the requirement

      (still outside that, but honestly, if you want to get on your high horse you should at least know the rules first)

        • +15

          Wrong again…

          I would say

          thankfully, AS electrical standards don't care what 'you would say' with regards to legal requirements

          and 'next test' is not legally enforceable, its just the test and tag guy trying to get additional $ in the following year

          Like i said, its outside the allowable window, but if you don't know the rules you shouldn't be shouting claiming facts about them
          (and trust me, in this conversation, one side of us knows the requirements and the other recently stayed in a motel with a kettle)

          One of us is wrong again… while one of us is explicitly quoting the applicable AS/NZS electrical standard in an above response

          There is a degree of self assessment for what class an item falls into, and for all you know the motel has had a risk assessment and electrical audit done based on install locations, usage etc to determine the required interval
          (which they have exceeded, but doesnt mean its 12mths… they likely should fall under the 2 year interval instead of the 5 year interval, but regardless… shout about rules and standards when you know them)

        • Tested 19/9/2015, next test 19/9/2016.

          Based on that logic.

          Do you follow the sticker precisely on your car's windscreen that shows, next service is 1/4/2023?

        • -1

          my car says next oil change on 15/6/23 - i'm probably gonna stretch that out a few weeks subject to km's travelled this year.

          You gonna tell on me too?

          • +1

            @geoffs87: Watch out
            You might get fined by the relevant government authority!

    • Where exactly in the regs does it way this?

  • +23

    Did you voice your concerns to the hotel while you were staying there?

    • +19

      Get outta here with your common sense and logic

    • +2

      They probably want to confirm facts with the internet crowd first before blackmailing communicating with the hotel for cOmp3nZati0n.

  • -7

    Contact Fair Trading. If it's not them, they'll send you to the right people

    https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/

  • +52

    The department of snitches, tell them it's Karen calling and you would like to speak to the manager.

    • Hahahahaha, thank you so much! I needed that laugh. :-)

  • +13

    Is that you hellopam V.2?

    • +1

      Either that or the onion peeling creature. This does seem suspiciously pam-my though.

  • +5

    Call the Popo or dial 000.

    Motel says Thank you please come again!

  • +1

    If something goes wrong at the motel from the appliances, then it's on them. The motel is likely aware of the appliance situation and have accepted the risk.

    Why be so invested into fixing this? I'm sure, at least hope, there are many more worthwhile things you could take on rather than snitching on the motel.

  • +14

    Get a life

  • +14

    Not gonna lie,
    This is @Screensaver/@HelloPam written all over it.

    • +5

      Close ……. it's a another 'prolific' poster with multiple personalities

      • +4

        *Grabs popcorn.

      • +1

        You are extremely obsessed.

        • Totally ……. I expect better from trolls

  • +8

    DisabledUserXXXXX…. in…. 5, 4, 3, 2……………… lol

    • +3

      One can hope
      We don't need this rubbish on ozb

  • +6

    Haven’t had some good forum drama in a while

  • +2

    This is a WHS topic, so your state regulator is the one to go to ie. Safework.

  • +2

    time to bring Derryn Hinch out of retirement

  • +7

    Gee I hope you opened up the switchboard and had a good look through there too.
    You know… For safety

  • +4

    What a great first post

  • Beavis and Butthead

  • +11

    Sounds like a question SlavOz would ask.

  • +1

    Same with a lot of business as well

  • +16

    I just bought a kettle which is marked ‘manufactured in 2020’ and it didn’t have a test and tag out of the box. Should I complain and demand cOmPeNsAtIoNz?

  • Looking at the username, maybe OP is one of that motel's competitors. ;)

  • Oh, OP. *sensible_chuckle.gif*

  • +2

    Just delete this thread.

    OP, just stay at home forever.

  • but did you die?

  • +5

    Hi Pam! If it’s not you, it’s someone very very close to you!!

  • +1
    • That's a messed-up story.
      Similar to the girl who got electrocuted through the tap.
      Electricity is no joke.

  • She’ll be right mate

  • There’s a reason we have test and tag rules in place. Here’s a starting point for your research.

    https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/hazards-a-z/electrical-and-p…

    • -1

      The link you refer to only indicates testing required; not tagging … ? Or am I missing something?

      The record may be in the form of a tag attached to the electrical equipment tested.

      • -4

        Here’s a starting point for your research.

  • +1

    2 answers to OP currently. Maybe OP could try FB for some more useful comments….

  • +2

    How often are appliances required to be tested?
    The answer will shock you.

    • The answer will shock you.

      Well well … what an electrifying comment.

      I am static … bzzzzzzzz bzzzzzzz

  • +3

    When was the last time you were tested and tagged 🤔

  • +1

    Did you immediately unplug the appliances and report it to the motel?

  • +7

    i dont think OP should receive so much backlash from the OZ community. Hes being pedantic and worded his post in a way that sounded nitpicking and karen like yes but he isnt wrong to voice his concerns. Cut some slack. We all know someone who is v passionate about one thing that the community completely disregards- until shit hits the fan.

    • Did you just assume the OP's gender?

    • +1

      Why should we "Cut some slack" when OP posts "Which government dept is the correct one to speak with?" without knowing the test and tag requirements are in NSW and would cause the business undue stress?

    • Because this is an obvious troll post

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