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As a key component of basic workplace health and safety measures, understanding Test And Tag regulations is a must for any Queensland business owner.
From both a legal and moral perspective, it is the duty of an employer to provide employees with a safe and healthy work environment. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 legislation, employers must assess risks, and implement and review control measures in order to prevent or minimise exposure to these risks.
To properly manage exposure to risks, employers must identify workplace hazards, determine who might be harmed and how, decide on control measures, put controls in place, and review those controls regularly.
In Queensland, adhering to test and tag regulations is essential for ensuring that electrical equipment is operating as it should, and doesn’t pose a danger to anyone using the item. However, there are certain rules on when items should be assessed, and who is permitted to conduct the work.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, test and tag is the process of testing portable appliances to ensure that they are safe to use, and ‘tagging’ them with a form of identification to verify that they’ve been tested. Testing and tagging is governed by the Australian and New Zealand safety standard outlined in AS NZS 3760.
The type of work being performed determines how often specified electrical equipment needs to be tested and tagged. Specified electrical equipment is defined by Section 97 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 as electrical equipment with a current rating of not more than 20 amps, and the term also includes cord extension sets and electrical portable outlet devices, otherwise known as EPODs.
In Queensland, test and tag regulations indicate that a durable tag must be attached after inspecting and testing, and must clearly show the test date along with the next scheduled test and inspection date.
Intervals for testing specified electrical equipment will depend on the type of industry, the type of device, and the type of work it’s used for. Test and tag regulations specify the following time frames for minimum standards.
| EQUIPMENT / INDUSTRY | TEST AND TAG INTERVAL |
| Amusement devices and rides (A device or ride supplied by a plug with a current rating of not more than 20 amps must also be connected to a type 1 safety switch or type 2 safety switch) | After each onsite assembly, and every 6 months |
| Amusement work (double insulated specified equipment) | 12 months |
| Amusement work (specified equipment not double insulated) | 6 months |
| Construction work (transportable structures, fixed and transportable equipment and construction wiring) | 6 months |
| Construction work (other equipment) | 3 months |
| Manufacturing work (double insulated equipment) | 12 months |
| Manufacturing work (equipment not double insulated) | 6 months |
| Office work (if no safety switch) | 5 years |
| Rural work (equipment used under stated risk factors and no safety switch) | 12 months |
| Service work (if no safety switch) | 12 months |
In addition, there are also different intervals for Type 1 and Type 2 safety switches that businesses need to adhere to. For more information on in-depth tag and test regulations in Queensland, be sure to stay up to date with the latest policies here.
It’s also important to note that only a person deemed to be competent can test and tag electrical equipment. While knowledge and skills to perform these tasks can only be gained from in depth training, experience and having the appropriate qualifications, it’s also an offense under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to repair electrical equipment unless you have the appropriate electrical work license.
If you don’t have someone with the right experience on hand to conduct the work in line with Queensland test and tag regulations, then it’s a good idea to enlist the help of a licensed professional – but where do you find one?
Here at Shield Electrical, we are a Brisbane based electrical contracting company, and pride ourselves on being shockingly good at watt we do. For us, friendly and reliable customer service isn’t just a nice add on – it’s how we do business. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask our clients.
Established in 2015, Shield Electrical is lighting the way when it comes to providing electrical work with world class customer service. With our headquarters based in the central suburban pocket of Coorparoo, our team of qualified industry professionals are readily available to deliver quality workmanship, fast quotes, and affordable pricing.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an electrician for domestic services, residential, commercial and industrial construction, security systems or even just further energy saving tips, get in touch with us at Shield today to source practical solutions that don’t break the bank.
