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Department of Employment and Industrial Relations
Home > Electrical Safety > Business and industry > Electrical workers and contractors > Electrical equipment and tools

Electrical equipment and tools

Who can test electrical equipment?

By law only a person deemed competent by their employer can test and tag electrical equipment.

It is an offence under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) to repair any electrical equipment that you find is faulty, unless you have the appropriate electrical work licence.

Competence is based on knowledge and skills gained through training, experience, qualifications or a combination of these.

How often to test

How often specified electrical equipment and safety switches are tested depends on the class of workplace they are used in:

Category Portable electrical equipment Type 1 or 2 safety switch (fixed) Type 1 or 2 safety switch (portable)

Construction work

At least 3 monthly intervals by a competent person.

  • Use the inbuilt test button (at least monthly).
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person at least annually.
  • Use the inbuilt test button – immediately after it is connected and immediately before it used, first time each day.
  • By a competent person, at least every 3 months.

 

Specified electrical equipment

Type 1 or 2 safety switch (fixed)

Type 1 or 2 safety switch (portable)

Manufacturing work

  • If equipment is double insulated, at least every 12 months by competent person.
  • If not double insulated, at least every 6 months by competent person

and connected to a safety switch.

  • Use the inbuilt test button – at least every 6 months.
  • An operating time/current test at least every 12 months by competent person.
  • Use the inbuilt test button – daily or before each use, whichever is longer.
  • By a competent person, at least every 12 months.

 

Note: From 1 March 2008, portable safety switches are not to be used in manufacturing work. Installed safety switches must be used.

Service work

At least 12 monthly intervals by a competent person

or connected to a safety switch.

  • Use the inbuilt test button, at least every 6 months.
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person, at least every 12 months.

Longer test intervals may apply. Consult the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB) and AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (non-Queensland Government link)

  • Use the inbuilt test button at least every 3 months or before each use, whichever is longer.
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person, at least every 12 months.

Longer test intervals may apply. Consult the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB) and AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (non-Queensland Government link)

Office work

At least 5 yearly intervals by a competent person

or connected to a safety switch

  • Use the inbuilt test button at least every 6 months.
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person, at least every 2 years.

 
  • Use the inbuilt test button at least every 3 months.
  • An operating time/current test by a competent person at least every 2 years.

 

Amusement work

(specified electrical equipment)

  • If equipment is double insulated, at least every 12 months by competent person.
  • If not double insulated, at least 6 months by competent person and connected to a safety switch

 
  • Use the inbuilt test button – at least every 3 months.
  • An operating time/current test at least every 6 months by competent person.

Longer test intervals may apply. Consult the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB) and AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (non-Queensland Government link)

  • Use the inbuilt test button – daily or before each use, whichever is longer.
  • By a competent person, at least every 3 months.

Longer test intervals may apply. Consult the and AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (non-Queensland Government link)

Amusement work

(amusement rides and devices)

 

Inspected and tested each after each onsite assembly, and every six months.

 

 

 

Rural industry work

(all plug in equipment)

 

Visual examination before each use.

 

 

 

Rural industry work

 

(Specified electrical equipment used under stated electrical risk factors)

 

Either: test and inspect every 12 months or protect with a safety switch.

 

 

Recommended push button test every three months.

Recommended push button test every three months.

For construction work, refer to AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites (non-Queensland Government link).

For all other work, refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB).

On completing tests, and on achieving satisfactory results, you must attach a durable tag to the electrical equipment showing when next it is due for an inspection and test. Electrical equipment that fails testing should immediately be withdrawn from use and you must attach a durable tag warning people not to use the equipment.

Last updated 2 June 2009