Visual Inspection

Visual inspection is carried out by the electrical appliance operator and requires checking:

• equipment at regular intervals if used daily; and/or
• before operation if the equipment is used infrequently or moved around.

The items to check in the visual inspection are:

• equipment free from obvious external damage;
• component defects - accessories, connectors, plugs, or socket outlets;
• supply cords - inner cords not exposed, external sheaths not cut, abraded or damaged;
• flexible cords effectively anchored
• security/alignment of any control knobs
• covers/guards are secure;
• mechanical safety facilities/devices (e.g. cut outs) are in working order;
• ventilation inlets or exhausts are unobstructed
• controls or alarms are in working order;
• cords are not tangled and do not contribute a tripping hazard;
• powerboards - warning indicating "maximum load to be connected" is visible and legible;
• is the environment detrimental to the safe use of electrical equipment.

Note: some of the above may not apply to all electrical equipment.

Some items or hazards that require taking out of service and replacing:

	Double Adaptors are banned.
	Abraded cord with fabric outer sheath.
	Powerboard with inner cords exposed.
	Cable grip is failing to anchor the cord on the plug socket - this could pull the wires from the connectors to provide a hazard.
	Lead is not correctly anchored into the cable grip of the plug - again this will put strain on the inner cords.
	Abraded cord on extension lead.
	Calculator cord trapped between two desks rubbed away at the insulation causing the inner cords to become exposed.
	Slit/Nick in extension lead - provides a hazard.
	Charred double adaptor - overloading electrical items can cause.