Free test and tag checklist (au/nz)
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Free test and tag checklist for portable electrical equipment (AU/NZ, PDF-ready). Visual inspection, IR and earth continuity (AS/NZS 3760). Download free.
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What is a test and tag checklist (au/nz)?
Test and tag (or portable appliance testing) is the process of inspecting and electrically testing portable electrical equipment to confirm it is safe to use. In Australia and New Zealand, test and tag is governed by AS/NZS 3760:2010, the standard for in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment. The process involves two stages: a visual inspection (checking the plug, cable, body and previous tag) and electrical testing using a calibrated test instrument (typically insulation resistance, earth continuity and polarity). For construction and demolition sites, AS/NZS 3012:2019 provides additional requirements for electrical installations and equipment.
Passed items receive a tag showing the test date, tester ID and next test due date. Failed items must be taken out of service and tagged accordingly until repaired and retested. Testing must be performed by a competent person, typically a licensed electrician or a person trained and authorised to inspect and test electrical equipment per the requirements of AS/NZS 3760. A test register recording all results must be maintained for the duration of the equipment service life or as specified by the standard.
Under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a duty to ensure all electrical equipment used in the workplace is safe and properly maintained. Test and tag programmes are the primary mechanism for meeting this obligation for portable and cord-connected equipment. Maintaining a structured test and tag register also supports incident investigation, insurance claims and regulatory audits by providing a documented history of every inspection and test result linked to each individual asset.
Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this test and tag checklist (au/nz)
- Safety: identify faulty electrical equipment before it causes electric shock, fire or injury to workers on site or in the workplace.
- Compliance: demonstrate due diligence under WHS/OHS legislation and AS/NZS 3760, satisfying your legal obligation to maintain safe electrical equipment.
- Recordkeeping: maintain the test register required by AS/NZS 3760 for the duration of the asset's life or as specified by the standard.
- Accountability: link test results to each individual item and each tester by name and certificate number, so responsibility and traceability are clear.
- Consistency: standardise the inspection and testing process across all testers, sites and contractors, ensuring the same standard is applied everywhere.
- Insurance and audit evidence: a documented test history for every item supports insurance claims, regulatory audits and incident investigations involving electrical equipment.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise electrical equipment checklists in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Set recurring audit schedules with automatic reminders and escalation.
- Produce regulator-ready PDF compliance packs in one click.
- Track corrective actions from finding to close-out with full audit trail.
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What to include in a test and tag checklist (au/nz)
This test and tag checklist (au/nz) covers 7 key areas:
- Tester & site details: company, site/location, test date, retest frequency, tester name and certificate/licence number, test instrument make/model and calibration due date.
- Visual inspection reference: a compact checklist reminding testers what to inspect visually before testing each item: plug, flex/cable, equipment body, switches/controls, earth pin (Class I) and previous tag removal.
- Test register table (24 items, 2 pages): per item: equipment description/asset ID, location, equipment class (I/II/III), visual inspection result (P/F), insulation resistance reading (MΩ), earth continuity reading (Ω), overall pass/fail result, next test due date, and notes.
- Test limits reference (AS/NZS 3760): minimum pass requirements by equipment class: IR (Class I ≥ 1 MΩ, Class II ≥ 2 MΩ, Class III ≥ 0.25 MΩ), earth continuity (Class I ≤ 1 Ω), polarity, and visual inspection.
- Failed/non-conforming items table: record faults, action taken and who cleared the item.
- Declaration: statement that tests were conducted by a competent person using a calibrated instrument, with failed items taken out of service.
- Signatures: tester signature, print name, certificate/licence number and date; plus an optional supervisor/client acknowledgement.
How to use this test and tag checklist (au/nz)
- Confirm your test instrument is within its calibration date and set up per the manufacturer's instructions.: Check the calibration sticker or certificate for the test instrument before starting. If the calibration has expired, do not proceed. Set the instrument to the correct test mode for the equipment class being tested.
- Fill in the tester and site details at the top of the register (company, site, date, retest frequency, tester name and cert number, instrument details).: Record the retest frequency applicable to the site environment (for example, 3 months for hostile environments, 12 months for non-hostile). Include your certificate or licence number and the test instrument make, model and calibration due date.
- For each item: perform a visual inspection using the reference checklist on page 1. If the item fails visually, do not test it electrically - mark it Fail, tag it out-of-service and record the fault.: Check the plug for cracked or bent pins, the cable for cuts or joins, the equipment body for damage, and the earth pin (Class I). Remove the previous test tag. If any visual defect is found, record the fault and do not proceed to electrical testing.
- If the visual inspection passes, conduct the electrical tests appropriate to the equipment class: insulation resistance (IR) test and earth continuity test (Class I only). Record the actual meter readings in the register.: For Class I equipment, test earth continuity first (must be below 1 ohm), then insulation resistance (must exceed 1 megohm). For Class II equipment, test insulation resistance only (must exceed 2 megohm). Record the exact meter readings, not just pass or fail.
- Determine the overall result (Pass or Fail) by comparing readings against the test limits reference (AS/NZS 3760). Record the result and next test due date in the register.: Compare each reading against the test limits table for the equipment class. Record the overall pass or fail result and calculate the next test due date based on the retest frequency for the site environment.
- Attach the appropriate tag: a pass tag showing the test date, tester ID and next retest date; or an out-of-service tag for failed items.: Apply the pass tag securely to the equipment plug or cable. For failed items, attach a clearly visible out-of-service tag and remove the equipment from the work area to prevent accidental use.
- Complete the declaration, sign, and retain the test register for the period specified in AS/NZS 3760.: Sign the declaration confirming tests were conducted by a competent person using calibrated instruments. Retain the register as a permanent record. File the register with your electrical safety documentation for audit and regulatory purposes.
In MapTrack, you can automate compliance tracking and audit trails. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
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Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
Retest intervals depend on the environment and risk level as specified in AS/NZS 3760:2010 Table 4. Construction, demolition and mining sites require testing every 3 months for cord-connected equipment and cord sets. Manufacturing and workshop environments typically require testing every 6 months. General commercial and office environments require testing every 12 months. Hire equipment must be tested before and after each hire period. Low-risk IT or fixed equipment in non-hostile environments may be tested every 5 years. RCDs on construction sites require daily push-button testing and instrument testing every 3 months.
Under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Regulation 164), a PCBU must ensure that electrical equipment is inspected and tested by a competent person at intervals that manage the risk of electrical hazard. AS/NZS 3012:2019 imposes stricter requirements for construction and demolition sites, including mandatory 3-month testing cycles and daily RCD checks. Always verify the applicable interval against AS/NZS 3760 and your state or territory WHS regulator requirements, as obligations can vary by jurisdiction. Where equipment moves between environments with different risk profiles, apply the shortest applicable interval.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- AS/NZS 3760:2010 - In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (Table 4 retest intervals, Clause 3 testing requirements)
- AS/NZS 3012:2019 - Electrical installations on construction and demolition sites (Clause 2.7 portable equipment testing)
- Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 - Regulation 164 (electrical equipment inspection and testing) and Regulation 147 (general electrical safety in workplaces)
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