Visual Inspection Labels

The testing of electrical devices to ensure their safety is regulated by mandates that have been set forth by the British government since 1974. These various regulations for testing fall under the guidance of City and Guilds through the supervision of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the Health and Safety Executive. The code of practice for the testing of all electrical devices is more commonly referred to as Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT. There are a variety of testing methods, including a visual inspection when a device has a minimum of circuitry. The results of these tests must be displayed on some part of the device, which may be in the form of visual inspection labels.

The guidelines that address electrical safety tests that rely on visual inspections focus on the general environment in which an appliance or device is used. This type of inspection is more often used for machines and other devices that are fixed in place, although some transportable devices may also be visually inspected if they have a minimum of circuitry, such as a power lead. In these cases, the integrity of the connection cable as well as the power source plug can be assessed. Visual inspection labels will be posted to display the results of the test.

Other environmental conditions in which visual inspection labels will be used include accessibility to the source of electrical power to ensure a that solid connection exists and that the device can be readily unplugged in case of an electrical malfunction. The power cable can be visually inspected for evidence of excessive wear, such as frayed insulation or breaks in the cable itself. The cables must be placed in such a way as to avoid damage from foot traffic or strain on the cable. Visual inspection labels must also be affixed in such a way as to avoid removal or defacing of the printed information.

Additionally, the appliance or machine may be visually inspected to ensure that its physical integrity is intact and meets the manufacturer’s specifications for proper installation and usability. This would include all component covers being in position, access doors to internal parts being closed, and adequate ventilation being provided. The surrounding workplace environment may also be inspected to ensure that no tools, storage containers, or other items interfere with the safe operation of and accessibility to the device or its power leads.

Visual inspection labels is most often affixed to the surface of the electrical device itself, although a label may be affixed to the power cable as well. In any case, visual inspection labels must be readily visible for cursory verification of the status of the device. The information that is displayed on visual inspection labels will include the date of the inspection, the name and contact information of the inspecting entity, the identification number of the device, and the result of the test. These labels will generally include the phrase “tested for electrical safety” and will indicate a “pass” or “fail” status, as well as the next scheduled test date.