It’s a reasonable question. Test and tag can seem straightforward — you plug an item into a machine, wait for a light, and stick a tag on it. So can your cleaner, maintenance person, handyman or a motivated staff member just do it themselves?
The short answer is: only if they genuinely meet the “competent person” standard defined in AS/NZS 3760:2022 — and in practice, most cleaners, handymen and untrained staff do not.
Here’s why this matters, what the standard actually requires, and what the consequences are of getting it wrong.
What Does AS/NZS 3760:2022 Actually Require?
AS/NZS 3760:2022 — the Australian Standard for test and tag — states that electrical safety testing must be conducted by a competent person. This is defined in the standard as:
“A person who has acquired, through training, qualification or experience, the knowledge and skill enabling that person to correctly perform the task.”
This definition has three important elements: training, qualification or experience that results in genuine knowledge and skill to correctly perform the task.
Note that the standard does not say the person must be an electrician. But it does mean the person must genuinely know what they are doing — not just physically be capable of plugging in a machine.
What Does a “Competent Person” Actually Need to Know?
To meet the competent person standard for test and tag, a person must understand:
The standard itself They must understand AS/NZS 3760:2022 — what it requires, what tests must be performed, what the testing frequencies are for different environments, and what the documentation requirements are.
The tests and their meaning They must understand what each test measures (insulation resistance, earth continuity, leakage current, polarity), what an acceptable result looks like, and what a failing result means.
How to correctly use testing equipment A PAT (Portable Appliance Tester) must be used correctly and calibrated. Using a PAT incorrectly can produce false pass results — meaning faulty equipment gets tagged as safe.
How to identify faults visually The visual inspection component requires knowledge of what to look for — damage types, warning signs, unsafe modifications — and the judgment to decide whether an item passes or fails visual inspection.
Documentation requirements The standard requires specific information to be recorded for every test. Incomplete or incorrect records provide no compliance protection.
What to do with failed items A person must understand the correct procedure for removing failed items from service, documenting failures, and communicating results to the client or employer.
So Can a Cleaner or Handyman Do It?
A cleaner or handyman could legally do test and tag if they have completed accredited training that gives them genuine competence in all of the above areas, and they have access to correctly calibrated and appropriate testing equipment.
The question to ask is not “Can they physically operate the machine?” but “Do they genuinely meet the competent person standard?”
In most cases, the honest answer for untrained cleaners, handymen and maintenance staff is no — not because they lack intelligence, but because they haven’t received the specific training that builds genuine competency in test and tag.
The Risks of Using an Unqualified Person
Getting test and tag done by someone who doesn’t genuinely meet the competent person standard creates several serious problems:
1. It doesn’t actually protect your workers An unqualified person may miss visual faults, misinterpret test readings, or fail to test items that should be tested. The purpose of test and tag is to identify dangerous equipment — if it’s done incompetently, dangerous equipment stays in service.
2. Your compliance documentation is worthless If an incident occurs and your insurer or a WHS regulator reviews your test and tag records, they will assess whether the person who conducted the testing was genuinely competent. Records produced by an unqualified person may provide no legal protection at all.
3. WHS prosecution risk Under the WHS Act, if a worker is injured by electrical equipment and the employer cannot demonstrate that testing was conducted by a competent person, the employer’s legal exposure is significantly increased.
4. Insurance implications Many insurers require evidence that safety compliance has been maintained by qualified personnel. Testing done by an unqualified person may void relevant coverage.
What About a Staff Member Who Has Done a Course?
If a staff member has completed an accredited test and tag training course from a recognised provider, and they have access to appropriate, calibrated testing equipment, they may meet the competent person standard for the specific types of equipment covered by their training.
This is a legitimate approach for some larger businesses that manage high volumes of equipment internally. However, it comes with ongoing responsibilities: the staff member must stay current with the standard, the testing equipment must be maintained and calibrated, and all documentation must be managed and stored correctly.
For most businesses, using a professional test and tag service is more cost-effective and provides better compliance protection than maintaining an internal capability.
The Bottom Line
Test and tag is not a difficult job to do — but it is a job that requires genuine competence to do correctly and compliantly. The consequences of getting it wrong — undetected faulty equipment, invalid compliance records, insurance issues, and WHS liability — are serious.
If someone in your business is doing test and tag, make sure they have completed accredited training and are genuinely meeting the AS/NZS 3760:2022 competent person standard. If you are not certain, using a professional service removes all doubt.
ATS provides professional test and tag services nationally across Australia. Call 1300 287 669 or get a free quote online.