Sale & supply of second-hand electrical equipment

Care must be taken when buying or selling second-hand electrical goods at any trash and treasure market.

If you are selling or supplying second-hand electrical equipment you must make certain information available to prospective buyers.

Organisations and individuals supplying or offering to supply second-hand electrical equipment must be aware of the legal obligations imposed on them under electricity safety legislation. These include:

• A person supplying or offering to supply second-hand electrical equipment must attach a label to the equipment stating that it is second-hand
• A business, including major charitable organisations, supplying or offering to supply second-hand electrical equipment must also attach a label stating that the equipment is second-hand and has been inspected and tested, and is compliant with Australian/New Zealand Standard(AS/NZS) 3760, or
• If it has not been tested, the business supplying or offering to supply second-hand electrical equipment must include a clear statement on the label stating the equipment is second-hand, with additional words as follows: DANGER – DO NOT USE OR CONNECT TO SUPPLY – THIS SECOND-HAND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT MAY BE FAULTY AND SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND TESTED BY A COMPETENT PERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS/NZS 3760

The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3760 covers the requirements for In-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment.

Suggested labels for second-hand electrical equipment

THIS SECOND-HAND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND TESTED AND COMPLIES WITH AS/NZS 3760

Purchasers are advised to have this item checked for damage and tested prior to use. It must be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Notes

1. The inclusion of the inspector’s identity is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.

2.The use of generic AS/NZS 3760 compliance tags, commonly used by tradesmen and inspectors and available from electrical wholesalers, is acceptable in conjunction with a label stating the equipment is second-hand.

ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT 1998
SECOND-HAND
DANGER – DO NOT USE OR CONNECT TO SUPPLY
THIS ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT MAY BE FAULTY AND SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND TESTED BY A COMPETENT PERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS/NZS 3760 PRIOR TO USE