What WorkSafe Victoria says
Shops, offices and most workplaces
How often gear is inspected and tested depends on the equipment, the operating environment and how it's used, with AS/NZS 3760:2022 as the reference for timeframes. Leads and equipment should get a visual check before each use.
Building sites
WorkSafe's industry standard for electrical installations on construction sites says portable tools, appliances and extension cords are inspected before first use and tested every three months for earth continuity and insulation resistance. Items that pass are tagged, and results are kept on site.
Who can test
On building sites, a licensed electrician, a licensed electrical inspector, or someone trained and deemed competent with a pass-fail tester. WorkSafe's general guidance adds that some testers are only competent to pass or fail an item, while a licensed electrician can also repair the defects they find.
A tag isn't a guarantee
WorkSafe Victoria says a test tag doesn't necessarily mean the equipment is in good condition. Damaged gear should be thrown out, or tagged out and repaired by a competent person.
How often to test safety switches (RCDs), by WorkSafe Victoria's guidance
| Push-button test, done by the user | Trip-time test | |
|---|---|---|
| High-risk areas | Portable RCDs daily on each day they're used; fixed RCDs every 6 months | Every 12 months |
| Medium-risk areas | Portable every 3 months; fixed every 6 months | Every 12 months |
| Low-risk areas | Portable every 3 months; fixed every 6 months | Every 2 years |
Building sites have their own rules
WorkSafe's general electrical safety guidance doesn't apply to construction workplaces. Those follow its industry standard for electrical installations on construction sites, which sets the three-monthly test cycle for portable gear and monthly push-button tests for fixed RCDs on site switchboards.
That standard is Edition No. 3 from January 2011, and WorkSafe notes it hasn't been updated for the OHS Regulations 2017. If you run a site, check WorkSafe's current advice as well as the document itself.
If a tool or lead gives someone a shock
Don't touch them while they might still be in contact with the power. Switch off at the wall or the main switch if you can do it safely, and call 000 if they're hurt. Tag the item out and keep it aside so the electrician can find the fault.
When testing points to the building
Test and tag checks things with a plug. If items keep failing on the same power point, or a safety switch trips whenever certain gear is plugged in, the fault may be in the building's wiring. Fixing that is electrical installation work, done through a Registered Electrical Contractor, and it comes with a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
That's the case for booking an electrician rather than a tester only: the repair can happen on the same visit. For the wiring itself, an electrical safety inspection is the separate job to book.
Before you book
- What interval do you suggest for our gear, and how does it line up with WorkSafe's guidance?
- Will you test the RCDs as well, including trip times?
- What goes on each tag, and what record do we keep?
- Can you repair faulty power points or circuits you find, and issue the certificate?
- Can testing work around our trading hours?
What we'd tell a Melbourne business
Ask the tester to set a schedule for your actual workplace and explain it against WorkSafe's guidance, rather than accepting a one-size interval. Have your team push the RCD test buttons on time between visits. And book someone who can repair as well as test, so a failed power point gets fixed before the next shift instead of after the next visit.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.