Spring is nearly here, and with it comes a fresh round of compliance updates, safety campaigns, and the all-important yellow test tags. While regulators are keeping busy across the states, this month we’re also focusing on important reminders - from calibrations to the importance of visual inspections.
Yellow Test Tags Incoming
September kicks off the yellow quarter under the AS/NZS 3012 colour system. That means your current blue tags will soon expire, and all new tests should be tagged yellow through to the end of November.
It might sound simple, but keeping your colours correct makes life much easier when you’re audited or checking your registers. Best practice is to swap tags at the start of the quarter, not halfway through, so your compliance dates stay neat and consistent.
And if you’re on a construction, mining, or demolition site - this isn’t optional. Get your stock sorted now so you’re not caught short when September hits, available at Appliance Testing Supplies.
Tradies National Health Month
August was Tradies National Health Month - a national push to highlight both the physical and mental health of tradies.
Plenty of SafeWork regulators in each state jumped on board with reminders that safety isn’t just about ticking boxes. Toolbox talks, proper breaks, knowing where to get help if you need it - these things matter just as much as tagging equipment.
We think it’s a great initiative, and one that often gets overlooked in the day-to-day of work. It’s also a good chance to step back and look at your own workplace practices. Are toolbox talks covering mental health? Do workers know where to get help if they need it? A strong safety culture covers the whole person, not just the equipment.
Regulators Are Cranking Up
Across the country, regulators are stepping up enforcement, with a clear focus on high-risk industries. This has been a consistent theme over the last 3-4 months.
- NSW: SafeWork has just carried out its biggest safety blitz in over a decade, handing out more than 500 non-compliance notices.
- SA: Odd one here - a bloke impersonating a SafeWork inspector turned up at a site, hi-vis vest on, and gave two workers drug and alcohol tests before vanishing. Quick reminder: a real inspector will always have ID and proper branding.
- VIC: WorkSafe Victoria is zeroing in on five industries — construction, transport, manufacturing, agriculture and health care - with targeted visits aimed at reducing serious harm. On top of that, they’re reminding operators in the mining sector to review safety management plans after a recent incident.
Put together, that’s a clear message from across the country - regulators are more active than ever, and they’re spreading the net wide.
New Training Venues – Werribee (VIC) & Alexandria (NSW)
We’ve added two more venues to our national line-up: Werribee in Victoria and Alexandria in New South Wales.
Werribee’s a win for anyone in Melbourne’s west, Geelong, or regional VIC north of the city. No need to trek all the way into the CBD - and let’s be honest, the traffic in there is a disgrace. This venue saves you wasting half a day in a jam.
Alexandria is perfectly placed for Sydney’s inner south and eastern suburbs, just minutes from the airport and close to key transport links.
That means more options to get trained closer to home or work, and less time wasted on travel. If you’re planning to book training ahead in Spring, these venues are ready to go.
Visual Inspections Matter
Visual inspections are where most faults get found, yet it’s the part people rush. How do we know? Because we talk to test & taggers every single day, and they all say the same thing: most issues are right there in front of you.
Frayed cords, cracked casings, dodgy plugs - nine times out of ten, you’ll spot it before your PAT tester even leaves the bag.
So if you’re flying through this step, slow down. Around 90% of faults are caught visually - and missing them could cost you.
Calibration – Get in Before the Rush
August is sometimes the calm before the storm - jobs start picking up again as we head into spring, and by October the calendar fills fast. That’s also when a lot of people suddenly realise their PAT tester is due for calibration, which means service centres get busy and turnaround times stretch out.
If you leave it until October or November, you could be waiting longer than you’d like - right when you need your gear most.
The smart move is to book your calibration now, while things are still manageable. You’ll sail through the busy season with ideally no downtime. And while it’s in, take the chance to check your accessories - so the leads, printers, ribbons, tags etc. so everything is ready to go for the end-of-year push.
Find out more about getting your PAT Tester calibrated.
Looking Ahead
That’s August wrapped. Yellow test tags are rolling in, regulators are out in force (and don’t look like easing up), and a few industries are copping extra attention. September’s only going to get busier, so buckle up.
As we head toward the end of the year, we’ll start digging into the bigger stuff - reviewing the latest PAT testers, changes in the test and tag industry and dropping the key updates you need to stay ahead. Plenty more to come.
