What test and tag is
"Test and tag" is the everyday name for in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment: the leads, power boards, tools and appliances that plug into a power point. Each item gets a visual inspection, an electrical test, and a tag showing who tested it, when, and when it's next due.
The standard is AS/NZS 3760:2022 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCDs. It replaced the 2010 edition, so if your paperwork still mentions AS/NZS 3760:2010, it's out of date.
Every visit from us includes:
- a visual inspection of each item (plug, lead, housing, strain relief)
- electrical testing suited to the item, for example an earth continuity test on earthed (Class I) gear, which double-insulated (Class II) gear doesn't have
- a durable tag on every item that passes
- results, and a digital test register you keep
- anything that fails is taken out of service and tagged as such, so nobody uses it until it's repaired, retested and retagged
Who needs it, and how often
The law here is the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025, which replaced the 2017 Regulation in August 2025. Under section 150, electrical equipment used in a "hostile operating environment" must be regularly inspected and tested by a competent person. Hostile means normal use exposes it to moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or dust. Untested equipment in that kind of environment must not be used until it's tested.
SafeWork NSW's guidance gives these intervals:
| Equipment | At least every |
|---|---|
| Equipment in hostile environments (general rule) | 12 months |
| Manufacturing, workshop and commercial cleaning equipment | 6 months |
| Hire equipment | 3 months |
| Construction site tools, leads, power boards and portable RCDs (AS/NZS 3012) | 3 months |
Lower-risk places such as dry, clean offices, shops and classrooms may still need inspection and testing, just less often. The right interval comes from a risk assessment and AS/NZS 3760, and we can help you work it out. See how often you need to test and tag and the NSW test and tag requirements guide.
A few things people often get wrong:
- It doesn't have to be a licensed electrician. In NSW a trained, competent person can test and tag. Having a licensed electrician do it means faults can be explained, and the fixed wiring side can be looked at on the same visit.
- Not every workplace must test every 12 months by law. The legal requirement is for hostile environments, and construction sites through AS/NZS 3012. Everything else is set by risk.
- Landlords don't have to test and tag tenants' appliances or fixed appliances in a home rental. We found no NSW tenancy rule requiring it.
Construction sites
Building sites have their own standard, AS/NZS 3012:2019, which is made mandatory by section 163 of the WHS Regulation 2025. On site:
- tools, leads, power boards and portable RCDs are tested every 3 months
- portable RCDs are push-button tested before each use and have an operating time test every 3 months
- tags must be durable and non-metallic, showing the test date, next test date, tester's name and AS/NZS 3760
- construction wiring and switchboards must be tested by a licensed electrician
More in our guide to test and tag on construction sites.
Riverina workplaces we test for
Test and tag suits any business with plug-in gear: offices and shops in Wagga, workshops and factories at Bomen, cafes, schools, clubs, builders and trades, and farms. On a farm, the workshop, machinery shed, pump shed and shearing shed are all workplaces, and tools used in dusty, wet or outdoor conditions count as hostile environment equipment. Pair it with RCD testing and fixed safety switches on those circuits.
What affects the price
- Number of items. The per-tag price drops as the job gets bigger, and the bracket applies to every item on the job. Very large jobs get a custom quote.
- Three-phase items are priced separately from standard plug-in gear.
- Minimum per visit. Small jobs have a minimum charge, so it's worth testing everything due at once.
- Travel. Free close to Wagga and charged further out, worked out from your address.
- Repairs. Replacement plugs or leads and repairs are only done with your OK, charged for time and materials.
Get a figure in a minute with the instant test and tag estimate. For more than a couple of hundred items, call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote.
Common questions
Is test and tag a legal requirement in NSW?
For equipment used in hostile environments, yes: section 150 of the WHS Regulation 2025 requires regular inspection and testing by a competent person. Construction sites must follow AS/NZS 3012. In lower-risk workplaces the frequency comes from a risk assessment and AS/NZS 3760.
Does an electrician have to do test and tag?
No. A trained, competent person can test and tag portable equipment in NSW. On construction sites, construction wiring and switchboards must be tested by a licensed electrician.
What records do I need to keep?
Test records must show the tester's name, the test date, the outcome and the next test date. The tag shows this on the item, and our digital register gives you the full list.
What happens to items that fail?
They're withdrawn from use and given an out-of-service tag. After repair they must be retested and retagged before going back into use. We'll tell you what failed and why.
Which standard do you test to?
AS/NZS 3760:2022, the current edition. Construction site equipment is also covered by AS/NZS 3012:2019.