Test & Tag Regulations VIC

Testing and tagging in Victoria is guided by Victorian workplace safety laws, WorkSafe Victoria guidance and applicable Australian Standards, particularly AS/NZS 3760:2022.

Victoria does not have one blanket rule requiring every electrical item in every workplace to be tested at the same interval. However, employers must provide and maintain a safe working environment, free from health risks, so far as is reasonably practicable.

WorkSafe Victoria states that regular testing and tagging is necessary to detect electrical faults and deterioration that cannot be found through visual inspection alone. The appropriate testing frequency depends on the equipment, how it is used and the environment in which it operates.

Construction and demolition sites have additional electrical safety requirements and shorter testing intervals.

VIC Test and Tag Requirements at a Glance

Is testing and tagging legally required in Victoria?

Victoria does not impose one fixed testing requirement across every workplace. Employers must manage electrical risks and maintain a safe working environment.

Depending on the equipment, workplace and risk of damage, regular inspection, testing and tagging may be an appropriate and necessary safety measure. Construction and demolition sites have more specific testing requirements.

Who can test and tag in Victoria?

Testing and tagging must be performed by someone who is competent to complete the work safely and correctly.

A competent person must have the knowledge and practical skills to inspect equipment, perform the appropriate tests, interpret the results, apply tags and maintain accurate records.

Do you need to be an electrician?

No. You do not need to hold an electrician's licence to carry out basic inspection, testing and tagging in Victoria, provided you are competent to perform the work.

This does not authorise you to undertake electrical installation, repair or modification work.

How often is testing required?

Testing intervals depend on the equipment, operating environment, how frequently it is used and its exposure to damage.

Construction and demolition equipment is generally tested every three months, while equipment used in lower-risk environments may have considerably longer intervals.

Are test tag colours mandatory in VIC?

Construction and demolition sites use the quarterly red, green, blue, and yellow system for equipment.

Outside these environments, a specific tag colour is generally not required. However, businesses may use their own consistent colour system to help manage testing schedules.

What testing records should be kept?

Records should identify the person who completed the test, the test date, the outcome and when the next inspection or test is due.

WorkSafe Victoria advises employers to keep records of electrical safety maintenance programs, including equipment testing and tagging.

WorkSafe Victoria and Workplace Electrical Safety

WorkSafe Victoria is responsible for administering and enforcing Victoria's occupational health and safety laws.

Employers must identify electrical hazards and eliminate the associated risks where reasonably practicable. Where a risk cannot be eliminated, it must be reduced as far as reasonably practicable.

Regular inspection and testing can form part of this risk-management process, particularly where equipment is:

Frequently moved or handled
Exposed to moisture, heat, dust or vibration
Used outdoors
Used in workshops, factories or construction environments
Likely to suffer damage to its plug, cord or casing

A test tag does not guarantee that equipment remains safe until its next scheduled test. Equipment should still be visually checked before use and removed from service if it becomes damaged.

Who Can Test and Tag in VIC?

You don't need to be an electrician or have an electrical background to test and tag in Victoria.

However, you must be competent to carry out the particular inspection and testing work safely. This includes being able to:

Recognise electrical hazards and visible equipment damage
Use a portable appliance tester correctly
Select and perform the appropriate tests
Interpret the test results
Apply the correct tags
Record testing results accurately

Completing a nationally recognised Test & Tag Course is a practical way to develop and demonstrate these skills.

After successfully completing our full course, you will receive a Statement of Attainment for UEESS00174 – Electrical Safety Testing of Electrical Cord Connected Equipment and Cord Assemblies Skill Set.

The Skill Set includes:

UEECD0007 – Apply work health and safety regulations, codes and practices in the workplace
UEERL0003 – Conduct in-service safety testing of electrical cord-connected equipment and cord assemblies

Only a registered training organisation can deliver nationally recognised training and issue the Statement of Attainment.

View VIC Dates & Locations

AS/NZS 3760 and AS/NZS 3012 in VIC

In Victoria, testing and tagging is guided by two main Australian Standards:

AS/NZS 3760:2022 covers the in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and RCDs.
AS/NZS 3012:2019 applies to electrical installations and equipment used on construction and demolition sites.

Australian Standards are not legislation by themselves, but they provide recognised methods for inspecting, testing and managing electrical equipment safely.

The current AS/NZS 3760 edition was published in 2022 and replaced the previous 2010 edition. It includes updated terminology, clearer guidance and changes to inspection and testing requirements.

Learn more about AS/NZS 3760 and the changes introduced in the 2022 Standard.

Test and Tag Colours in VIC

Construction and demolition sites in Victoria use the quarterly RGBY test tag colour system:

Red: December, January and February
Green: March, April and May
Blue: June, July and August
Yellow: September, October and November

The rotating colours help site managers and workers quickly identify the testing period.

Outside construction and demolition environments, a specific tag colour is not generally required. Businesses may still use a consistent colour-coding system to make testing schedules easier to manage.

A tag colour does not, by itself, confirm that an item remains safe. Equipment should be checked before use and removed from service if damage is identified.

View the complete Test and Tag Colour Guide.

Test & Tag Colours - VIC

Test & Tag Intervals in VIC

The appropriate test and tag frequency depends on the equipment, its operating environment and how likely it is to be damaged.

Common testing intervals include:

Construction and demolition sites: every three months
Factories, workshops and production areas: every six months
Environments where cords are regularly flexed or exposed to damage: every 12 months
Low-risk environments where equipment and supply cords are not exposed to flexing or abuse: up to five years

These are general intervals based on the relevant Australian Standards. A shorter interval may be appropriate where equipment is heavily used, frequently moved or exposed to harsh conditions.

Individual workplaces, clients and sites may also impose their own testing requirements.

Testing Records and Failed Equipment

Employers should keep records of their electrical safety maintenance programs, including equipment inspection, testing and tagging.

Testing records should include:

The identity of the person who performed the test
The date of the inspection and test
The testing outcome
The date when the next test is due
Details of any failed or damaged equipment

Equipment that fails inspection or testing should be clearly identified, removed from service and referred for appropriate repair or disposal.

Electrical repairs, installations and modifications must be completed by someone appropriately licensed or qualified to perform that work.

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