Test & Tag

Why do I need to do this?

In Victoria, the requirement to test and tag electrical equipment comes down to your legal employer obligations and industry safety standards. While the specific words "test and tag" do not actually appear in the text of the Victorian OHS Act, you are practically required to do it for two main reasons:

• Your Legal "Duty of Care" (OHS Act 2004): Under Section 21 of the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, employers must provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, "so far as is reasonably practicable." WorkSafe Victoria actively enforces this by using the official Australian Standard (AS/NZS 3760) as the benchmark for a safe workplace. If an electrical accident happens and you haven't been testing your equipment, you can be found in breach of the Act for failing to manage known hazards.

• Catching Unseen Electrical Faults: While office staff can spot a frayed cord or a cracked plug, a visual check won't catch internal issues like a breakdown of insulation or a faulty earth wire. Regular testing using a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) ensures that the equipment won't accidentally shock an employee or spark an office fire.

How often do items need testing?

Different items and conditions mean that more frequent testing may be required. A basic framework is outlined below, but it's best to have a conversation to make sure it's all up to scratch.

Office equipment

Because a standard corporate office is considered a "low-risk, non-hostile environment" (meaning cords aren't constantly being flexed, dragged through water, or exposed to heavy wear like they would be on a construction site), the testing intervals are very generous.

Under the standard, most standard office equipment and server rooms only need to be tested and tagged every 5 years.

High Use & Hostile Areas

If you have appliances in a "hostile" pocket of the office, such as a kitchen kettle, microwave, or a shared printer cable that gets plugged and unplugged constantly, those specific items generally require testing every 12 months because the risk of physical damage is much higher.

It's also wise to apply this to any items that staff may bring in or take home, due to the extra wear and unknown conditions.

 

Tools & Consruction Sites

With the heavy use, rough conditions and incresed risk to people and property - power tools used for construction must be tested every 3 months.

It's a good idea to book in a date for the whole crew to get things tested in one go, saving time and hassle chasing people up and holding up work.

(As this testing is focussed on the safety of connected electrical equipment, battery hand tools are usually not required to be tested and tagged)