Construction Sites - Testing and Tagging Regulation

For those who are new to testing and tagging it’s important to remember that test and tag requirements do change depending on the environment you are in. 

Construction is an industry we get a lot of questions about, so to break it down - if you will be testing and tagging electrical equipment on a Construction, Mining or Demolition site, you must adhere to the AS/NZS 3012 2010 Standard.

If you will be testing a construction area as well as other environments, you will need to work with the 3012 Standard as well as the AS/NZS 3760 2010 Standard.

What you need to know about AS/NZS 3012

Under the 3012 Standard, electrical equipment must be inspected, tested and tagged every 3 months on Construction, Mining and Demolition sites.

There are specific Test Tag Colours you are required to use, which indicate which quarter of the year the items have been tested in. We have created the handy chart below to help, but you can also read a full post on Test Tag Colours.

Any electrical appliance in this environment will need to be tested. This can include items like tools, battery chargers, cleaning equipment, extension leads and portable RCD boxes.

It’s also important to note that a lot of work environments will have different test and tag frequencies and regulation because of their own induvial risk management, or OHS policies. For example, there are some Construction sites that will only allow licensed electricians to conduct their testing and tagging. WorkSafe have provided a handy checklist for anyone working on small construction sites.

Regulation and Codes of Practice can also sometimes differ slightly between regions. For the most current, and region specific information, visit WorkSafe New Zealand.

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