Jul 27, 2026

Last updated on Jul 27, 2026

Test & Tag AS/NZS 3760:2022 — Compliance Guide for Australian Electrical Contractors

If you’re an electrical contractor employing staff or running a workshop, test and tag is not optional paperwork — it’s a legally enforceable safety obligation. Under AS/NZS 3760:2022, every plug-in electrical appliance used in your workplace must be inspected, electrically tested, and tagged at prescribed intervals. Fail to do it, and you’re carrying uninsured liability on every power tool, extension lead, and portable RCD your team uses every day.

This guide covers what the 2022 standard requires, the testing intervals that apply to different environments, who’s qualified to do the work, and how to build a systematic compliance process that doesn’t eat your admin time.

The Standard: What AS/NZS 3760:2022 Changed

AS/NZS 3760:2022 superseded the 2010 version and remains the primary standard that WorkSafe regulators, insurers, and safety auditors expect Australian electrical contractors to follow for in-service electrical equipment.

The update tightened several areas:

Record keeping requirements are more explicit — you need to retain test results, not just tag the equipment
Competent person definition was clarified — training alone isn’t enough without demonstrated practical skills
RCD testing requirements were updated to align with AS/NZS 3012 for construction environments
Test interval tables were revised to better reflect real-world risk profiles in different workplace environments

The standard covers portable, handheld, and transportable equipment with a flexible cord and plug operating at 50V–1000V AC or 120V–1500V DC. This includes power tools, extension leads, power boards, portable RCDs, kitchen appliances, laptop chargers, and workshop equipment. Fixed hard-wired equipment is outside the scope and covered by electrical installation regulations instead.

What This Means On-Site: Your Compliance Obligations

Visual Inspection Comes First

Before any electrical testing, AS/NZS 3760:2022 requires a thorough visual inspection. This means checking every item for:

Damaged or heat-discoloured plugs and pins
Cracked, split, or frayed flexible cords
Exposed inner insulation or conductors
Correct cord anchoring at the plug and appliance entry point
Signs of overheating, moisture ingress, or impact damage
Legibility and currency of any existing test tag

A failed visual inspection means the item is out of service immediately — you don’t proceed to electrical testing. It’s either repaired by a licensed person and retested, or disposed of.

Electrical Testing Requirements

After a passing visual inspection, electrical tests are performed with a calibrated portable appliance tester. Depending on the equipment class, testing typically includes:

Earth continuity — for Class I (earthed) equipment, measuring resistance between the earth pin and exposed metal parts
Insulation resistance — measuring resistance between active/neutral conductors and earth, or between live parts and accessible metal
Polarity — verifying correct wiring of cords, extension leads, and power boards
Leakage current — for certain equipment types where insulation testing alone is insufficient
RCD trip time and trip current — for portable RCDs using a suitable RCD tester

Double-insulated (Class II) equipment marked with the double-square symbol requires modified testing — insulation resistance testing is still performed, but earth continuity is not applicable.

The Tag Itself

Every item that passes must carry a durable tag showing:

Information Required	Example
Test date	27/07/2026
Next test due date	27/10/2026
Competent person or company	J. Smith / SparkyTest Pty Ltd
Pass indication	✓ PASS or green tag

The tag must remain legible for the full interval between tests. Faded, torn, or missing tags are a compliance failure even if the equipment itself is sound.

Test Intervals by Environment

AS/NZS 3760:2022 sets maximum test intervals based on the environment where equipment is used — not the equipment type. Higher-risk environments with more handling, dust, moisture, and damage potential require shorter intervals.

Environment	Test Interval	Typical Equipment Examples
Construction, demolition, mining	3 months	Power tools, extension leads, portable RCDs, temporary lighting, site radios
Manufacturing, workshops, warehouses	6 months	Bench tools, welders, compressors, workshop lighting, factory equipment
Commercial cleaning, hospitality	6–12 months	Vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, kitchen appliances, portable heaters
Offices, retail, accommodation (low risk)	12 months to 5 years	Computers, monitors, printers, kettles, microwaves, desk fans
Hire equipment	Each hire or shorter	Any equipment rented to customers — tested before each hire

Important: These are maximum intervals. If your site has a higher-than-normal damage rate or your equipment history shows recurring faults, the standard expects you to reduce the interval to match the actual risk. A blanket “test everything annually” policy that ignores environment-specific requirements will fail an audit.

For construction sites specifically, AS/NZS 3012 (Electrical Installations — Construction and Demolition Sites) imposes additional RCD testing requirements that run alongside AS/NZS 3760 obligations. Portable RCDs on construction sites must be tested using both the built-in test button and a suitable RCD tester at intervals no greater than those specified in AS/NZS 3012.

Who Can Test and Tag: Competent Person Requirements

You do not need an electrical licence to perform test and tag. AS/NZS 3760:2022 defines a competent person as someone who has acquired — through training, qualification, experience, or a combination — the knowledge and skill to:

Correctly perform visual inspection and electrical testing
Interpret test results and determine pass or fail
Understand the hazards associated with testing electrical equipment
Use the test equipment safely and in accordance with manufacturer instructions

State-Specific Requirements

State	Additional Requirements
Western Australia	Must complete a Nationally Recognised course through an RTO
Queensland	If testing for other businesses, need a Restricted Electrical Contractor’s Licence from the Electrical Safety Office + Nationally Recognised course
All other states	Competent person as defined by the standard — training strongly recommended but no mandatory licence for in-house testing

If you’re an electrical contractor employing your own test and tag technician, that person needs documented training and demonstrated competence. If your business provides test and tag as a service to other companies, check state-specific licensing requirements — Queensland and WA have stricter rules than other states. See our state-by-state electrical compliance guide for regulator contacts in your jurisdiction.

Building a Systematic Compliance Process

The businesses that get test and tag right don’t treat it as a once-a-year panic. They build a recurring system.

Asset Register

Start with a complete register of every plug-in electrical item on your sites. The register should include:

Asset ID or description
Location (site, shed, vehicle)
Equipment class (Class I or Class II)
Last test date and next due date
Test result history

For an electrical contracting business with multiple vehicles and a workshop, this might be 100–200 items. Trying to manage it on a spreadsheet is where compliance breaks down — items get missed, intervals drift, and the register goes out of date.

Recurring Job Scheduling

This is where job management software pays for itself. In ServiceM8, you can create a recurring job template for test and tag:

Set the job to recur at the interval your environment requires (3 months for construction work, 6 months for workshop)
Attach a digital compliance form that captures test results, asset IDs, and pass/fail status
Auto-assign to your competent person so nothing falls through the cracks
Generate compliance certificates directly from completed job records

The result: your test and tag schedule runs on autopilot rather than someone remembering to check a calendar. See our ServiceM8 for electricians guide for setting up recurring compliance job templates.

Failed Equipment Process

Every compliance system needs a clear, enforced process for failed equipment:

Immediately remove from service — tag as FAILED, physically isolate from working equipment
Repair by licensed person — only a licensed electrical worker can repair failed equipment
Retest after repair — full inspection and testing before returning to service
Dispose if unrepairable — document disposal in your asset register

Equipment that’s left in a “pending repair” state indefinitely is a common audit finding. If it’s not fixed within a reasonable timeframe, dispose of it.

Record Keeping: What WorkSafe Expects

AS/NZS 3760:2022 requires records to be retained. In the event of an incident, audit, or insurance claim, your records are the only evidence that testing was performed correctly and on schedule.

Records must include:

Asset identification (what was tested)
Test date and next due date
Test results — pass/fail and measured values for each test
Identity of the competent person who performed the test
Details of any repairs or corrective actions taken
Equipment location at time of testing

Digital records through a platform like ServiceM8 ensure records are complete, searchable, and don’t disappear when a technician leaves. Paper logbooks and spreadsheets stored on someone’s laptop are not considered robust record-keeping in a regulatory investigation.

For broader electrical safety compliance beyond test and tag, see our 2026 electrical safety compliance guide and solar compliance checklist.

FAQ

How often do I need to test and tag equipment?

Test intervals under AS/NZS 3760:2022 depend on the environment: construction and demolition sites require 3-month intervals, manufacturing workshops and warehouses require 6–12 months, and low-risk office environments can extend to 5 years for many items. Hire equipment must be tested at each hire or at shorter prescribed intervals. The key rule is that higher-risk environments with more equipment handling and damage potential need more frequent testing.

Can anyone perform test and tag, or do you need an electrical licence?

You do not need to be a licensed electrician to perform test and tag. AS/NZS 3760:2022 defines a “competent person” as someone who has acquired the necessary practical and theoretical skills through training, experience, qualification, or a combination. However, in Western Australia you must complete a Nationally Recognised course through an RTO. In Queensland, if you provide test and tag services for other businesses, you need a Restricted Electrical Contractor’s Licence from the Electrical Safety Office in addition to training.

What must appear on a test and tag label?

Each item that passes must carry a durable, legible tag showing: the test date, the next test due date, the identity of the competent person or organisation that performed the test, and a clear pass indication. The tag must remain legible for the full interval between tests. Failed equipment must be immediately tagged as out-of-service and withdrawn from use.

Does AS/NZS 3760 apply to battery-powered tools?

Battery-powered tools without a mains connection are not required to be tested under AS/NZS 3760. However, the plug-in chargers for those tools are in-scope equipment and must be tested and tagged at the same interval as other equipment in that environment. USB-powered devices below 50V AC or 120V DC are generally excluded unless the power supply is a mains plug-in unit.

What records do I need to keep for test and tag compliance?

AS/NZS 3760:2022 requires you to retain records of all testing, including asset identification, location, test date, test results (pass/fail and measured values), and details of any repairs or corrective actions. These records are critical during a WorkSafe audit, insurance review, or incident investigation. Digital record keeping through a job management system like ServiceM8 ensures records are complete, searchable, and not lost between technicians.

This guide provides general information about AS/NZS 3760:2022 compliance. Always verify current requirements with your state workplace safety regulator: SafeWork NSW, Energy Safe Victoria, Electrical Safety Office (QLD), WorkSafe WA, SafeWork SA, Workplace Standards Tasmania, WorkSafe NT, or WorkSafe ACT.