Test and Tag
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Test and tag is the process of visually inspecting and electrically testing portable appliances then attaching a dated compliance tag, required in Australian workplaces to meet AS/NZS 3760 safety standards.
Test and tag is the process of visually inspecting and electrically testing portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use, then attaching a tag indicating the test date, result, next test due date, and tester’s identity. In Australia, the process follows AS/NZS 3760, which specifies testing intervals based on the operating environment. It is a workplace health and safety requirement for electrical equipment used in commercial and industrial settings.
What the law actually requires
Test and tag is not written into a single national law. What the law requires, in every Australian state and territory, is that a PCBU keeps electrical equipment safe. Under the model WHS Regulations, equipment that is supplied through an electrical socket outlet and used in a hostile operating environment, one where normal use exposes it to moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or dust, must be regularly inspected and tested by a competent person (SafeWork NSW, checked 22 August 2026).
AS/NZS 3760:2022 is the standard regulators point to for how to do that: the inspection method, the electrical tests, the tag and the recommended intervals. It is guidance rather than legislation in most places, but two jurisdictions have written intervals into law. Queensland prescribes maximum test intervals in its Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, which takes precedence over the standard there (WorkSafe Queensland, checked 22 August 2026), and the Northern Territory moved its testing and tagging provisions into the Electrical Safety Regulations 2024 on 1 July 2024 (NT WorkSafe, updated 7 August 2026).
Victoria is not a model WHS state. Its duty sits under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, and WorkSafe Victoria points to AS/NZS 3760:2022 for recommended testing timeframes all the same (checked 22 August 2026). On construction and demolition sites in every state, AS/NZS 3012 adds a stricter regime of its own. This page is general information, not legal advice: confirm the detail with your state regulator.
Sources: SafeWork NSW: electrical inspection and testing · WorkSafe Queensland: testing and tagging · NT WorkSafe: test and tag bulletin · WorkSafe Victoria: electrical safety
Testing and inspection intervals under AS/NZS 3760:2022
The intervals below are the ones Australian regulators publish for portable appliances, leads and cord sets. The environment sets the interval: the harder the equipment is used, the shorter the window. A documented risk assessment can always shorten an interval; stretching one is much harder to defend.
| Environment | Test and tag interval | Published by |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and demolition sites | Every 3 months (AS/NZS 3012) | SafeWork NSW, SafeWork SA, WorkSafe Qld |
| Factories, workshops, manufacturing and fabrication | Every 6 months. Qld allows 12 months for double-insulated equipment | SafeWork SA, WorkSafe Qld |
| Hostile environments (moisture, heat, dust, vibration, corrosives) and cords flexed in normal use | Every 12 months | SafeWork SA, Safe Work Australia |
| Offices and other low-risk settings where cords are not flexed, abused or exposed | Every 5 years. NT mandates no testing at all in this class | SafeWork SA, WorkSafe Qld, NT WorkSafe |
| Residential-type areas: hotels, motels, boarding houses, hostels | Every 2 years | SafeWork SA |
| Commercial cleaning equipment | Every 6 months | SafeWork SA, Safe Work Australia |
| Hire equipment | Inspect before each hire; test and tag every 3 months | SafeWork SA, NT WorkSafe |
| Amusement devices and rides | NSW: at least every 12 months. Qld: after each on-site assembly and every 6 months | SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Qld |
| Repaired, serviced or second-hand equipment | After any repair or service that could affect safety; second-hand equipment before first use | SafeWork SA, NT WorkSafe |
Maximum test and tag intervals as published by Australian regulators, drawn from AS/NZS 3760:2022, AS/NZS 3012 and Queensland’s Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. Checked 22 August 2026.
Sources: SafeWork SA: inspection and testing of electrical equipment (full AS/NZS 3760:2022 interval table) · WorkSafe Queensland: intervals for testing · NT WorkSafe: test and tag bulletin · SafeWork NSW: electrical practices on construction and demolition sites · Safe Work Australia: managing electrical risks code of practice
Test and tag colours in Australia
Tag colour identifies the period the test was done in, nothing more. There is no national colour law: SafeWork NSW calls colour-coded tags optional on construction sites, and NT WorkSafe describes colour-coding by month as one way to make an out-of-date tag obvious at a glance (both checked 22 August 2026).
On construction and demolition sites, where the 3-monthly cycle applies, most of the industry runs the same quarterly rotation. WorkSafe Tasmania publishes it in its sample construction tag and test register (checked 22 August 2026):
| Tag colour | Test period |
|---|---|
| Red | December to February |
| Green | March to May |
| Blue | June to August |
| Yellow | September to November |
The quarterly construction colour cycle as published in WorkSafe Tasmania’s sample electrical tag and test register. The colour marks the quarter the test was performed in, and the cycle repeats each year.
Individual sites, principal contractors and mine operators often run their own scheme, including monthly colours. The rule that keeps you compliant is simple: follow the scheme your site specifies, and make sure every tag shows the test date, the next test due date and who did the test.
Sources: WorkSafe Tasmania: sample electrical tag and test register (construction) · SafeWork NSW: electrical practices on construction and demolition sites · NT WorkSafe: test and tag bulletin
Who can test and tag
Everywhere in Australia the tester must be a competent person: someone with the knowledge and skills to inspect and test electrical equipment, gained through training, qualification or experience. A licensed electrician qualifies, but a licence is not required for testing in most jurisdictions. The common route for non-electricians is a nationally accredited portable appliance testing course through a registered training organisation (SafeWork SA, checked 22 August 2026).
| Jurisdiction | Who can test and tag |
|---|---|
| NSW | A competent person: knowledge and skills gained through training, qualification or experience |
| Victoria | Someone competent and suitably qualified; repairs need a licensed electrician |
| Queensland | A person their employer has appointed as competent; repairing equipment without an electrical work licence is an offence |
| South Australia | A competent person: an accredited PAT course through an RTO, or a licensed electrical worker |
| Western Australia | A competent person; on construction sites the tag must carry the tester’s name |
| New Zealand | No registration needed to test; only a registered electrical worker can repair a fault |
Summarised from each regulator’s published guidance, checked 22 August 2026. Site rules and contracts can demand more than the legal minimum.
Sources: SafeWork SA: competent person requirements · WorkSafe Queensland: who can test electrical equipment · WorkSafe WA: guide to testing and tagging · WorkSafe NZ: testing and tagging electrical appliances
Record-keeping obligations
A test record must show four things: who carried out the test, the date, the outcome, and the date the next test is due. The record must be kept until the equipment is next tested, permanently removed from the workplace or disposed of, and the tag itself can serve as the record (SafeWork NSW, checked 22 August 2026).
Most operators keep a register as well, because tags get damaged and removed: a logbook, spreadsheet, database or asset management system all count (NT WorkSafe, updated 7 August 2026). Construction sites carry extra obligations. SafeWork SA lists a register of all equipment, formal inspection and test records, a repair register and a record of faulty equipment, with RCD test results kept for at least five years (checked 22 August 2026).
Sources: SafeWork NSW: electrical inspection and testing · SafeWork SA: electrical testing records · NT WorkSafe: recording results of testing
Test and tag in New Zealand
AS/NZS 3760 is a joint standard, but the legal footing differs across the Tasman. Testing and tagging is not mandatory in New Zealand: the legal requirement under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 is that equipment is electrically safe and maintained in a safe condition, and WorkSafe NZ describes AS/NZS 3760 as an option for PCBUs to demonstrate they are meeting it (checked 22 August 2026).
In practice, New Zealand workplaces that do test and tag follow the same AS/NZS 3760 intervals shown in the table above, because it is the same standard. The tester does not need to be a registered electrical worker, but any repair has to be done by one (WorkSafe NZ, checked 22 August 2026).
Sources: WorkSafe NZ: testing and tagging electrical appliances
Key facts you can cite
On Australian construction and demolition sites, portable electrical equipment must be tested and tagged at least every 3 months under AS/NZS 3012.
Source: SafeWork NSW, checked 22 August 2026
AS/NZS 3760:2022 sets a 6-month test interval for portable appliances in factories and workshops, and 5 years where cords are not flexed, abused or exposed, such as offices.
Source: SafeWork SA, checked 22 August 2026
Hired electrical equipment must be inspected at the start of each hire and tested every 3 months.
Source: NT WorkSafe, checked 22 August 2026
The quarterly construction tag colour cycle is red for December to February, green for March to May, blue for June to August and yellow for September to November.
Source: WorkSafe Tasmania, checked 22 August 2026
Testing and tagging is not compulsory in New Zealand: WorkSafe NZ treats AS/NZS 3760 as one way for a business to show its electrical equipment is safe.
Source: WorkSafe New Zealand, checked 22 August 2026
Reuse these lines with attribution: cite the named primary source, and link this page if the summary helped.
Why it matters
Defective electrical equipment is a leading cause of workplace fires and electrical injuries. Test and tag programmes identify faults before they cause harm and demonstrate compliance with WHS obligations. In high-risk environments such as construction sites, demolition, and mining, testing intervals are more frequent (typically every 3 months), making systematic tracking essential to avoid non-compliance.
How MapTrack helps
MapTrack tracks test and tag schedules for every electrical asset, sends automated reminders before tests are due, and stores test results with photos and certificates against the asset record.
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Frequently asked questions
How often does electrical equipment need to be tested and tagged?
The interval depends on the environment. Construction and demolition sites require testing every 3 months under AS/NZS 3012. Factories and workshops are 6-monthly under AS/NZS 3760:2022, equipment whose cords are flexed in normal use or used in hostile environments is 12-monthly, and office equipment that is not flexed, abused or exposed can go 5 years. Hire equipment must be inspected before each hire and tested every 3 months. Queensland writes its own maximum intervals into the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, so check your state regulator.
Who can perform test and tag in Australia?
A competent person: someone with the knowledge and skills to inspect and test electrical equipment, gained through training, qualification or experience. A licensed electrician is not required for testing in most jurisdictions, and non-electricians commonly qualify through a nationally accredited portable appliance testing course. Repairs are different: in Queensland it is an offence to repair electrical equipment without an electrical work licence, and in New Zealand only a registered electrical worker can fix a fault.
What do the test and tag colours mean?
The colour identifies the period the test was performed in, so an out-of-date tag is obvious at a glance. On construction sites the common quarterly cycle is red (December to February), green (March to May), blue (June to August) and yellow (September to November), matching the 3-monthly testing interval. No colour scheme is mandated nationally: SafeWork NSW treats colour-coded tags as optional and NT WorkSafe describes monthly colour-coding, so always follow the scheme your site specifies.
Is test and tag mandatory in New Zealand?
No. WorkSafe NZ states that testing and tagging is not mandatory: the legal requirement is that electrical equipment is electrically safe and maintained in a safe condition. Following AS/NZS 3760, the same joint standard used in Australia, is an accepted way for a PCBU to demonstrate that. Many New Zealand workplaces and principal contractors require test and tag in practice, particularly on construction sites.
What records do you need to keep for test and tag?
A record of testing must show the name of the tester, the date, the outcome and the next test due date, and be kept until the equipment is next tested, permanently removed or disposed of. The tag can serve as the record, but most operators also keep a register, logbook or database because tags get damaged. On construction sites, SafeWork SA lists additional records including an equipment register, a repair register and RCD test results kept for at least five years.
Related terms
AS/NZS 3760
AS/NZS 3760 is the joint Australian and New Zealand standard covering the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment, commonly known as test and tag. It sets out how portable electrical appliances should be visually inspected, electrically tested, and tagged, and provides recommended testing intervals based on the operating environment. It is the technical basis competent persons follow when carrying out test and tag.
Compliance Management
Compliance management in asset-intensive industries is the systematic process of ensuring that equipment, operations, and personnel meet all applicable regulatory, safety, environmental, and contractual requirements. It encompasses tracking inspection due dates, certifications, licences, safety checks, environmental obligations, and industry-specific standards. Compliance management requires both proactive scheduling and thorough record-keeping.
Calibration
Calibration is the process of comparing the measurements produced by an instrument or device against a known reference standard and adjusting it to ensure accuracy within specified tolerances. It applies to test and measurement equipment, sensors, gauges, safety devices, and any instrument where measurement accuracy is critical. Calibration records include the as-found and as-left readings, the reference standard used, and the calibration date and next due date.
Pre-Start Inspection
A pre-start inspection is a systematic check performed on plant, equipment, or vehicles before each use or shift to identify defects, damage, or unsafe conditions. It typically follows a standardised checklist covering safety-critical items such as brakes, steering, lights, tyres, guards, fluid levels, and warning devices. Pre-start inspections are a legal requirement under workplace health and safety regulations in Australia and are similarly required in other jurisdictions, including OSHA equipment inspection requirements in the United States and PUWER requirements in the United Kingdom.
Asset Audit
An asset audit is a systematic process of physically verifying the existence, location, condition, and details of assets against the organisation’s asset register. It identifies discrepancies such as missing assets, unrecorded items, incorrect locations, and outdated information. Asset audits may be conducted for financial reporting, regulatory compliance, insurance purposes, or operational integrity.
Cite this definition
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Test and tag is the process of visually inspecting and electrically testing portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use, then attaching a tag indicating the test date, result, next test due date, and tester’s identity.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Glossary: Test and Tag, https://www.maptrack.com/glossary/test-and-tag
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Test and Tag [Glossary definition]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/glossary/test-and-tag
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/glossary/test-and-tag.
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