TEST & TAG QUESTIONS FROM PERTH BUSINESSES

Yes. Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2022 (WA) and WHS Regulations 2022, all employers have a legal duty of care to ensure that electrical equipment in the workplace is safe for use.

Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760:2022 sets out the specific requirements for in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment. Regular testing and tagging in accordance with this standard is the accepted method of demonstrating compliance with your WHS obligations.

Failure to comply can result in significant fines from WorkSafe WA, and - more critically - exposes your workers, clients and visitors to serious electrical hazards. It can also affect insurance coverage if an electrical incident occurs on an untagged or out-of-date item.

Not sure if your business is compliant? Contact us for a no-obligation quote.

New equipment does not require electrical testing before its first use. However, it does still require a visual inspection and a ‘new to service’ tag applied before being put into service, in accordance with AS/NZS 3760:2022.

This confirms the item has been visually checked, is free from visible damage, and is safe to being using. From that point, the normal testing interval applies based on the environment in which the equipment will be used

Yes. After every PTTS visit you receive a detailed digital compliance report listing every item testing, its individual pass or fail result, the next test due date and the attending technician’s details. You also receive a Certificate of Compliance.

We recommend retaining these records for the working life of the equipment. They are essential for:

• WorkSafe WA audits and inspections

• Insurance documentation and claims

• Internal workplace risk assessments

• Demonstrating due diligence as an employer

If your equipment or appliance fails a test and tag inspection in Western Australia, it must be immediately removed from service and clearly labelled as unsafe in accordance with WHS regulations 2022.  If repairable, the appliance should then be repaired by a qualified technician or replaced.

Common Fails within appliance testing include faults such as damaged or cut leads/cordsets, insulation faults & plug top faults or manipulations. Keeping failed items in use or not clearly labelling an appliance can expose your business to serious risks, including electric shock hazards, fire risk, and potential breaches of workplace safety obligations.  There is array of potential issues that this can create that include WHS regulation breaches, insurance exclusions & negligence related proceedings.

If Perth Test and Tag Solutions fail one of your appliances, our technicians by law cannot plug the appliance back and must clearly label the asset out of service. In addition, will also log failed asset in a PDF report, helping you track fails, repairs and demonstrate that you’ve taken corrective action. Our technicians will not remove appliances from site, dispose, cut leads or alter any failed appliances without consent from the respective owner or person responsible.

You can perform test and tag yourself in WA if you are considered a “competent person,” which up until 2022 was open to a world of interpretation. In 2022 the WHS regulations were updated which included a clear definition for “competent person”. Under page 10 R.5 Definitions a competent person is defined as “ For inspection and testing of electrical equipment — means a person who has satisfactorily completed a competency-assessed training course on testing and tagging using the pass-fail type of electrical instrument known as a portable appliance tester;”. This definition sets the minimum requirement for a competent person, the Australian standard for “portable appliance testing” is ASNZS 3760 which means that a person must complete competency assessed training to ASNZS 3760.

Being competent isn’t just about owning a tester - it also involves understanding risk categories, inspection procedures, and compliance requirements.

In practice, most Perth businesses choose a professional service because it ensures accuracy, proper documentation, and adherence to Australian Standards. Professionals also carry calibrated equipment and can identify issues that untrained staff may miss. Outsourcing reduces liability and saves time, especially for businesses with multiple appliances or higher-risk environments.

Perth Test and Tag Solutions handle the entire process, from testing, tagging to the reporting , so you don’t have to worry about compliance gaps, incorrect procedures or missing records.

Yes, businesses in Western Australia should keep detailed records of all test and tag activities. These records include test dates, results, equipment IDs, and any failed items.

Maintaining records helps demonstrate that your business is taking reasonable steps to meet workplace safety obligations. They can also be important during audits, insurance claims, or safety inspections.

PTTS provides clear digital reports, making it easy to track testing history, schedule future tests, and show proof of compliance if required.

There is no single fixed penalty for not conducting test and tag in WA, but businesses are required to maintain a safe working environment under workplace safety laws. Failing to do so can result in fines, legal action, or enforcement notices.

The biggest risk comes if an electrical incident occurs and it’s found that proper safety measures weren’t in place. In that case, penalties can be significant, especially if negligence is involved.

Regular testing helps demonstrate that your business is taking reasonable steps to meet its obligations.

Many offices in Perth have at least a few non-compliant items during initial inspections, often due to overlooked equipment like extension leads, damaged cables, or ageing appliances. For office spaces, our in house data indicates a fail rate between 0.95% to 1.56% depending on the office type. This percentage only relates to offices. While common issues are minor, they still pose safety risks if left unaddressed. Our technicians do find quite dangerous faults with appliances even in office spaces. Regular test and tag services help identify these problems early and keep your workplace compliant over time.

Once a system is in place, failure rates usually decrease significantly with ongoing maintenance.