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.