“How often do we need to test and tag?” is one of the most common questions we get from business owners, site managers and facility managers. The honest answer is that it depends on the environment the equipment is used in and your obligations under workplace health and safety laws. This guide explains how the intervals work and what a sensible test and tag program looks like.
What test and tag is
Test and tag is the inspection and testing of portable electrical equipment, such as power tools, extension leads, power boards, kettles, computers and other plug-in appliances. Each item is visually inspected, electrically tested, and fitted with a tag showing the date tested, who tested it and when the next test is due.
The standard most commonly used is AS/NZS 3760, In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment. It sets out how to inspect and test equipment and gives guidance on how often it should be done in different environments.
Why the interval depends on the environment
Equipment on a construction site takes far more punishment than a desk lamp in an office. Leads get run over, tools get dropped, and cables get dragged through water and dust. It makes sense that equipment in harsher environments is tested more often.
AS/NZS 3760 groups workplaces by the type of environment and the risk of damage. Construction and demolition sites sit at the frequent end, with equipment generally tested every three months. Factories, workshops, warehouses and similar environments are tested at shorter intervals than low-risk environments like offices, where equipment isn’t moved or flexed much in normal use and the intervals are longer.
Because the standard is updated from time to time and the tables have detail and exceptions, we always recommend checking the current version of AS/NZS 3760 and your WHS obligations for your specific type of workplace, rather than relying on a rule of thumb.
Construction sites have extra rules
Construction work has its own requirements for electrical equipment, including RCD protection and inspection of leads and tools. In Queensland, the Electrical Safety Regulation also sets out requirements for electrical equipment used on construction sites. The practical upshot is that construction site equipment should be on a frequent test and tag cycle, and site managers should be checking tags as part of their daily and weekly routines.
Many builders also require subcontractors to show that tools and leads are in date before they’re allowed on site. We test and tag for builders as part of our construction electrical work, which keeps site equipment in step with the program.
What’s involved in a test
A typical test and tag visit covers:
- A visual inspection for damaged cords, plugs, housings and strain relief
- An earth continuity test for Class I (earthed) equipment
- An insulation resistance or leakage current test
- Polarity checks on extension leads and cord sets
- Testing of portable RCDs, where they’re in use
- Tagging each item and recording the result
Items that fail are tagged out of service and removed from use. Some can be repaired, such as a lead with a damaged plug, and others are best replaced.
Records you need to keep
The tag on the equipment is only part of it. You should also keep a register of every item tested, with its location, test result and next due date. That register is what an inspector or insurer will want to see, and it’s how you know when the next round is due.
We provide a register with every visit, so you can see what was tested, what failed and what was done about it. For businesses with lots of equipment or several sites, it’s easier to schedule test and tag as part of a regular maintenance contract so nothing lapses.
RCD testing sits alongside test and tag
Fixed RCDs in the switchboard protect people from electric shock and also need regular testing. This is usually done with a push-button test at set intervals and a timed operating test less often. Portable RCDs used with power tools need testing too. We often do RCD testing on the same visit as test and tag, which keeps everything in one record.
Common problems we find
Across offices, warehouses, retail stores and building sites, the usual failures are:
- Extension leads with cracked or taped outer sheaths
- Plugs with bent pins or signs of overheating
- Cheap power boards daisy-chained under desks
- Appliances with missing covers or damaged housings
- Equipment that has never been tagged at all because it was bought after the last visit
That last one is common. New equipment should be inspected before it’s first used, and it should be added to the register so it’s caught on the next cycle.
Setting up a sensible program
A good test and tag program starts with knowing what you have and where it is. From there, set an interval for each area based on the environment and the standard, and book the visits in advance. Keep the register current, remove failed items promptly, and make sure new equipment is checked before use.
Our test and tag service covers offices, retail, hospitality, warehouses and construction sites across the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Northern NSW. We work around trading hours where we can, so staff aren’t left without equipment for long.
Where to check the rules
This is general guidance only. For the specifics, refer to the current AS/NZS 3760, your state’s WHS and electrical safety laws, and guidance from the Electrical Safety Office in Queensland (electricalsafety.qld.gov.au) or SafeWork NSW if you operate across the border. If you’re not sure what interval applies to your workplace, ask us and we’ll talk it through based on how your equipment is actually used.
Safety note: electrical work in Queensland and NSW must be done by a licensed electrician. This article is general information, not advice for your specific property. If something looks or smells wrong, switch off at the main switch if it’s safe to do so and call an electrician.