Short version: under Work Health and Safety (WHS) law you must manage the electrical risk from equipment used at work. Testing and tagging to the standard AS/NZS 3760 is the recognised, defensible way to show you've done that — and it's what insurers and auditors expect to see.
Do I legally have to test and tag?
There is no single law that says "you must test and tag." Instead, the WHS Act and Regulations (adopted in the ACT and NSW) place a duty on a person conducting a business or undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and others are not exposed to electrical risks. Regular inspection and testing of electrical equipment is the standard, well-understood way to meet that duty. In higher-risk environments — construction and demolition sites — testing of portable equipment is effectively mandatory under AS/NZS 3012.
In practice, if an incident or audit happens and you can't show a current testing regime, you're exposed. If you can produce tagged equipment and a register, you've demonstrated due diligence.
How often does equipment need testing?
AS/NZS 3760 sets recommended intervals based on the environment and how the equipment is used. As a general guide:
- Offices and other low-risk workplaces — typically every 12 months, where equipment isn't moved much and the environment is benign.
- Hospitality, workshops and commercial kitchens — typically every 6 months, where flexible cords and equipment take more wear.
- Construction and demolition sites — every 3 months under AS/NZS 3012.
- Hire equipment — inspected before each hire and tested at set intervals.
These are recommendations, not fixed legal deadlines — the right interval is the one that manages your actual risk. We'll set a schedule that suits your site and remind you before each retest is due.
Does it have to be done by an electrician?
No. Test and tag is carried out by a competent person — someone trained and equipped to do it — not necessarily a licensed electrician. A competent person holds the nationally recognised training, uses a calibrated appliance tester, and knows how to inspect, test and record results correctly. Licensed electrical work (fixed wiring, repairs) is separate and does require a licensed electrician.
What actually gets tested?
Testing and tagging covers portable, plug-in electrical equipment — anything with a flexible cord and plug: power leads, power boards, kettles, chargers, computers, power tools and the like. Each item gets:
- a visual inspection for damage to the plug, cord and casing;
- electrical tests appropriate to its class — earth continuity for Class I (earthed) equipment, and insulation resistance for both Class I and Class II (double-insulated);
- a durable tag showing the test date, next test date, result and who tested it;
- an entry in a digital asset register so you have a record.
Failed items are tagged out and removed from service so they can't be used until repaired or replaced.
What about RCDs (safety switches)?
Residual current devices — safety switches — should also be tested: a push-button test and a trip-time test confirm they cut power fast enough to protect people. Portable and socket RCDs are commonly tested on the same visit as your equipment.
What should I get afterwards?
At minimum you should receive a certificate of testing, a register of every item tested with its result, and tags on the equipment itself. Keep these — they're the evidence you hand to an auditor, insurer or building manager. A reminder before your next due date keeps you from silently falling out of compliance.
How Sentinel does it
We're a security-cleared, after-hours test-and-tag service for the Canberra region — Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass and beyond. We work around your trading hours, log everything to a digital register you can access any time, and remind you when your next test is due. You can get a fixed price in seconds and book online. Many clients also add cyber certification on the same visit.