Electrical test and tag in Australia: intervals and what fab shops track
Plain-English guide to test and tag for Australian workshops: how AS/NZS 3760 intervals work by environment, who can test, what to put on the tag, and how it differs from plant and lifting gear inspections.
"Test and tag" is the common name for inspecting and testing electrical equipment, then fitting a tag with the test date and next due date. In Australia the technical detail sits in AS/NZS 3760 (in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment). The WHS laws require you to manage electrical risk; the Standard is the usual way workshops set intervals.
The short answer
- AS/NZS 3760 sets inspection and testing intervals that get tighter as the environment gets harsher. Construction and demolition sites are the shortest; offices are the longest.
- Typical industry practice from the Standard's tables (confirm against your current copy): about 3 months for construction/hostile hire use, about 6 months for factories and workshops, about 12 months for office-type environments, and before each hire (then periodic) for hire equipment. Hostile environments can be shorter again.
- A competent person can do the testing. That is not automatically "any apprentice with a tag printer", and it is not always a licensed electrician – competence is about training and skill for this task. Some sites and states set higher bars in contracts.
- Failed gear is quarantined and repaired or scrapped. A new tag does not fix a damaged lead.
What actually gets tested in a fab shop
- Extension leads, power boards, portable RCDs
- Welders, grinders, drills, saws and other portable tools
- Battery chargers and plug-in weld fume units
- Portable lights and site boxes
Fixed wired plant is a different inspection regime. Don't assume a welder's plug test covers the workshop sub-board.
Tag fields that matter
- Asset or plant ID
- Test date and next test date
- Name or ID of the tester
- Pass/fail (failed items should not return to service with a "courtesy" tag)
Questions the other guides don't answer
Do I need a licensed electrician?
AS/NZS 3760 talks about a competent person. Many fab shops use an external test-and-tag provider. Some principal contractors specify a licence class in the site rules – follow the stricter of the Standard and the site.
Is new equipment tagged out of the box?
Brand-new equipment is often put into service after a visual check and then enters the interval cycle. Some sites still insist on a formal first test. Check the site induction pack.
What about battery tools?
The removable battery pack and charger are the usual focus. Follow the manufacturer and the Standard's guidance for the class of equipment. Damaged packs are a fire risk – quarantine them.
Can the same register track lifting gear?
Yes as separate columns or sheets. No as one shared due date. See the plant and lifting gear inspection guide.
Quick answers
What Standard covers test and tag in Australia?
AS/NZS 3760 sets out in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment, including suggested intervals by environment. Buy the current edition – summaries online can be out of date.
How often should workshop tools be tested?
AS/NZS 3760 uses shorter intervals for harsher environments. Factories and workshops are commonly around 6 months; construction sites around 3 months; office environments around 12 months. Confirm against the current Standard and your risk assessment.
Does test and tag have to be done by an electrician?
The Standard requires a competent person. That may or may not be a licensed electrician depending on training, the equipment and site or state requirements. Many workshops use a specialist provider.
What happens if a lead fails?
Remove it from service, quarantine it, and repair or dispose of it. Do not retag failed equipment as a pass.
Sources
- Safe Work Australia – Electricity
- Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice: Managing electrical risks in the workplace (PDF)
- Standards Australia store – AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment
- WorkSafe Queensland – Electricity (hub)
Related guides
- Test and tag register template
- Workshop plant and lifting gear inspections
- Toolbox talk topics
- Site induction checklist
General information only, summarised from the official sources above as at the review date. It isn't legal, WHS or engineering advice. Rules change and your situation may differ, so check the source or ask a professional.