Key points
- There is no single test and tag interval. It depends on the environment the equipment is used in and how hard that environment is on it.
- The model code of practice gives a general rule of at least once every 12 months in higher risk environments, with shorter examples for workshops, cleaning equipment and hire equipment.
- Construction and demolition sites follow AS/NZS 3012, which sets its own shorter intervals.
- Brand new equipment does not need testing before first use, but it should be visually inspected and entered in the register.
"Test and tag" is the everyday name for the in-service inspection and testing of plug-in electrical equipment. A competent person looks the item over, tests it with an instrument, records the result and usually fixes a tag showing when it was tested and when it is due again. The methods and indicative intervals are set out in AS/NZS 3760, In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCDs.
Which equipment needs testing?
Under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations, electrical equipment must be regularly inspected and tested by a competent person if it is:
- supplied with electricity through a socket outlet, that is, plug-in equipment, and
- used in an environment where normal use exposes it to conditions likely to damage it or shorten its life.
Those conditions include moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals and dust. Extension leads, power boards, portable tools, battery chargers and portable RCDs in workshops, factories, kitchens and on sites all fall into this group.
How often should it be done?
The model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace gives a general rule and some examples. The frequency should match the workplace and the risk.
| Where the equipment is used | Guidance in the model code |
|---|---|
| Higher risk operating environments in general | At least once every 12 months |
| Manufacturing and workshop environments | More often, for example at least once every 6 months |
| Commercial cleaning equipment | More often, for example at least once every 6 months |
| Hire equipment | Inspected at the start of each hire and tested every 3 months |
| Lower risk environments such as offices | Less frequent testing, guided by AS/NZS 3760 and the maker's recommendations |
| Construction and demolition sites | As required by AS/NZS 3012 |
These are starting points. Equipment that is moved constantly, used outdoors or shared between many people may need checking sooner. Where there is doubt, a competent person sets the interval.
Victoria has its own occupational health and safety laws, so the regulation numbers differ, but the duty to keep equipment safe is the same and AS/NZS 3760 is widely used there as the reference for intervals. The standard was last revised in 2022, so a register based on an older table is worth reviewing.
Construction and demolition sites
Construction work follows AS/NZS 3012, Electrical installations: Construction and demolition sites. It sets its own inspection and testing intervals for portable equipment and RCDs, and they are shorter than those for a workshop. Workers bringing their own tools on to a site should expect the principal contractor to ask for a current tag and test record before the tools are used.
Who can test and tag?
Inspection and testing must be carried out by a competent person: someone who has acquired, through training, qualification or experience, the knowledge and skills to do the task. Depending on the state or territory, that is a licensed electrician or a person who has completed a competency-assessed course in the use of a portable appliance tester.
A competent person can tell double insulated equipment from earthed equipment, choose the right test for each, use the instrument properly and read the result. They also know the limits of their training.
What the tag and record must show
A record of testing is kept until the equipment is next tested or is permanently removed from the workplace. It must specify:
- the name of the person who carried out the testing
- the date of the testing
- the outcome of the testing
- the date on which the next testing must be carried out.
The record can be a tag on the equipment, a logbook, a register or a database. A tag should be durable, water resistant, non-metallic, well secured, incapable of re-use and brightly coloured. Many sites also colour code tags by test period so an out of date tag stands out. If the tag does not carry all four details, the rest must be recorded elsewhere, which is why a register is the usual companion to tags. See safety tags and logbooks for both.
What about new equipment?
Brand new equipment that has never been used does not have to be tested before first use. It should still be visually inspected for damage from transport, delivery or installation. The date it entered service should be recorded, and it can be fitted with a "new to service" tag showing that date, the date the first test is due and that the item has not yet been tested. Second-hand equipment is treated differently and should be tested before use.
When equipment fails or is damaged
- Take it out of service immediately.
- Disconnect it and attach an out of service tag so nobody plugs it back in.
- Have a competent person assess it, then repair it, replace it or dispose of it.
- Inspect and test repaired equipment before it goes back into use.
Daily checks by the people using the equipment matter as much as the formal test. A cut lead or a cracked plug found before the shift starts is a fault that never reaches a person. For equipment that must stay isolated during repair, see lockout tagout.
Do not forget RCDs
Residual current devices, often called safety switches, cut the power when current leaks to earth. They only protect people if they work, so they need regular testing as well. Portable RCDs travel with the tools and take the same knocks, so include them in the register.
Test and tag at Star Safety Supplies
We test and tag power leads at our Carrum Downs factory, with a two business day turnaround and an Excel register of the results for your records. Small orders can be booked and paid for online, and larger quantities and other equipment are quoted by phone.
- Test and tag serviceHow it works, current price and booking
- Safety tags and logbooksOut of service tags and registers
- Lockout kits and stationsIsolate equipment during repair
- Talk to the teamBulk orders and other equipment
This guide is part of our workplace safety checklist. Related guides: safety sign colours and meanings and first aid kit requirements.
Sources
- Safe Work Australia, model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace, section 3.
- SafeWork NSW, Electrical inspection and testing.
- Standards Australia, AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCDs, and AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations: Construction and demolition sites.
