Test and tag is one of those compliance obligations that is easy to overlook until an incident or an insurance claim brings it sharply into focus. The process exists because electrical appliances degrade with use, and a fault in a portable appliance can cause electric shock or fire with very little warning. Regular testing by a competent person, combined with clear tagging showing the test date and outcome, gives businesses the evidence they need to demonstrate that their duty of care to employees and visitors is being met. Aura Illumination provides test and tag services across commercial, industrial, construction and hospitality environments, and we make the whole process as seamless as possible.
What test and tag covers
The process involves two distinct steps. Visual inspection comes first: the tester examines the appliance, its cable and its plug for physical damage, signs of overheating, incorrect repairs and any indication that the appliance has been modified or misused. An appliance that fails the visual inspection is tagged out of service immediately and removed from use, regardless of what the electrical test shows. The electrical test follows: using a portable appliance tester, the technician measures earth continuity, insulation resistance and, for some appliance classes, leakage current. Results are compared against the limits defined in AS/NZS 3760, the Australian and New Zealand standard for in-service safety inspection and testing.
If an appliance passes both stages, a tag is applied showing the test date, the retest due date, the tester's identification and a pass result. If it fails, the tag shows a fail result and the item is taken out of service. Every result is recorded in a register, which becomes the documentation your business holds as evidence of compliance.
Test and tag intervals by environment
- Construction sites and hire equipment: test every 3 months
- Factory and workshop environments: test every 6 months
- Offices, retail and hospitality: test every 12 months
- IT equipment and double-insulated appliances in low-risk environments: test every 5 years
- All environments: visual inspection before first use for new appliances, and after any incident involving the appliance
These intervals are defined in AS/NZS 3760 and represent the maximum gap between tests. High-use or harsh environments may warrant more frequent testing, and we are happy to discuss what is appropriate for your specific workplace when we assess the job.
What we deliver
At the end of each testing session, you receive a complete appliance register in either printed or electronic format listing every item tested, its result, the test date and the next due date. Failed items are documented separately with a description of the reason for failure. This register is the primary evidence you will be asked to produce in the event of a workplace inspection, an insurance claim or a WorkSafe investigation. We keep a copy as well, so if you ever need a replacement or need to check a historical result, we have it on file.
Minimal disruption, maximum coverage
We schedule test and tag sessions to minimise disruption to your operation. For larger premises we can work in sections, testing one area at a time while the rest of the business continues normally. For hospitality and retail environments we schedule outside trading hours. For construction sites we work around site activity and can tag tools at the point of use rather than requiring them to be brought to a central point. Our technicians work efficiently and are experienced in identifying all testable items in a workplace, including items that are sometimes overlooked such as extension leads, multi-boards, portable RCDs and battery chargers.