Test and Tag Regulations

Below we have attempted to summarise the test and tag regulations. This is not a complete record of all the regulations, however represents a quick reference guide. If you have any questions on the regulations please Contact Us or your local regulatory authority.

What is testing and tagging?

Electrical testing and tagging is subjecting an electrical appliance to regular inspection and testing to detect obvious damage, wear and other conditions that might render it unsafe. Faulty electrical appliances have caused electrical fires, electrical shocks and accidental electrocutions (there have been multiple deaths every year). Testing and Tagging is therefore necessary for the safety of persons using the equipment and to ensure that employers and employees meet work and safety regulations.

What Equipment Needs to be Tested? Typical equipment that needs to be tested includes:

  • Portable, hand-held and stationary appliances, designed for connection to power supply using a power cord
  • Power cord extensions and outlet devices
  • Power cords connected to fixed equipment in hostile environments i.e. an area where equipment may be subject to physical abuse, exposure to moisture, heat, vibration, corrosive chemicals or dust
  • Portable isolation transformers
  • RCDs
  • Commercial and industrial battery chargers
  • Portable and transportable 415V heavy duty tools such as high pressure washers and concrete grinders

The standard does not apply to equipment that would need to be dismantled to perform the tests and only applies to equipment in-service at a place of work or public place, or offered for hire.

What is the Test and Tag Process?

The testing and tagging process should consist of the following steps

  1. An external inspection of the equipment and the connecting facilities checking for obvious damage or defects
  2. Protective earth continuity test for Class I equipment (basic insulated, protectively earthed equipment), power boards and power cords
  3. Insulation testing, which may be achieved by measuring insulation resistance or leakage current
  4. Confirmation of the correct polarity of live connections

How frequently does Equipment Need to be Tested?

Electrical equipment should be inspected and tested:

  1. At intervals specified in the below table
    Please note the frequency of testing is determined not by the equipment type, but is dependent on the environment in which the equipment is used or working in.
  2. Before return to service after a repair or service
  3. Before return to service from a second-hand sale

 

Type of environment &/or equipment

Interval between inspection & tests

Equipment including Class 1 equipment, Class II equipment, cord sets, cord extension sets & EPODs Residual current devices (RCDs)
Push-button test - by user Operation time & push-button test
(a) (b) Portable (c) Fixed (d) Portable (e) Fixed (f)
1. Factories, workshop, places of manufacture, assembly, maintenance or fabrication. 6 months Daily, or before every use, whichever is the longer 6 months 12 months 12 months
2. Environment where the equipment or supply flexible cord is subject to flexing in normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a hostile environment 12 months 3 months 6 months 12 months 12 months
3. Environment where the equipment or supply cord is NOT subject to flexing in normal use & is NOT open to abuse & is NOT in a hostile environment 5 years 3 months 6 months 2 years 2 years
4. Residential type areas of: hotels, residential institutions, motels, boarding houses, halls, hostels accommodation houses & the like 2 years 6 months 6 months 2 years 2 years
5. Equipment used for commercial cleaning 6 months Daily, or before every use, whichever is the longer N/A 6 months N/A
6a. Hire equipment Prior to hire Including push-button test by hirer prior to hire N/A N/A
6b. Hire equipment - Inspection Prior to hire N/A N/A N/A
6c. Hire equipment - Test & Tag 3 months N/A 3 months 12 months
7. Repaired, serviced & second hand equipment After repair or service which could affect electrical safety, or on reintroduction to service.

Source: AS/NZS 3760:2010

What do I do if the Equipment Fails the Test?

If during the testing process you identify equipment which fails any of the tests the equipment should be appropriately labelled to indicate that the equipment requires remedial action and warn against further use and withdrawn from service. At Test Tag Outlet we sell Fail Tags which can be viewed here. The choice of remedial action, disposal or other corrective action shall be determined by the owner or the person responsible for the safety of the site.

What do I do if the Equipment Passes the Test?

Following satisfying the test criteria, compliant equipment must be fitted with a durable, non-reusable, non-metallic test tag. The test tag must clearly identify the following information:

  • The name of the person or company who performed the test
  • The test or inspection date and the due date of the next test
  • May be coloured as per regional specifications to identify the period of test. See Which Tag for further information.

All of our Test Tags are compliant with the AS/NZS 3760:2022 standard. Our range of Test Tags can be viewed here.

What are the Requirements for New Equipment?

All new equipment is covered under manufacturer’s warranty and therefore does not need to be tested for the first test period. In Australia all new equipment must be tagged to identify that the item is “New to Service” and has not been tested.

Our New to Service tags are designed specifically for this purpose and can be viewed here.

In New Zealand equipment must be inspected, tested and tagged on entry to service.

What are the Documentation Requirements?

The following should be recorded for each test and tag completed:

  • A register of all equipment
  • A record of formal inspections and tests
  • A repair register
  • A record of all faulty equipment showing details of services or corrective action.

Who is my local Test and Tag Regulatory Authority?

For more information on testing and tagging contact your local regulatory authority listed below:

New South Wales
Safe Work NSW
Ph: 13 10 50
www.safework.nsw.gov.au

Victoria
Work Safe VIC
Ph: 1800 136 089
 www.worksafe.vic.gov.au

Queensland
Electrical Safety Office
Ph: 1300 362 128
www.eso.qld.com.au

Australian Capital Territory
WorkSafe ACT
Ph: 13 22 81
www.worksafe.act.gov.au

Tasmania
WorkSafe Tasmania
Ph: 1300 366 322
www.worksafe.tas.gov.au

Northern Territory
WorkSafe NT
Ph: 1800 019 115
www.worksafe.nt.gov.au

South Australia
Office of the Technical Regulator
Ph: (08) 8226 5500
www.energymining.sa.gov.au

Western Australia
Work Safe WA
Ph: 1300 307 877
www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe

New Zealand
Energy Safety Service
Ph: 0800 030 040
www.portal.worksafe.govt.nz