If a technician has just told you a piece of equipment has failed its test and tag inspection, it’s natural to wonder what that actually means for your business — and what happens next. A failed test isn’t a crisis. It’s the system working exactly as it should: catching a fault before it becomes an injury, a fire, or an insurance headache. This article walks through what a failed test actually means, what happens immediately afterwards, and what your options are for getting equipment back into service.

What Does It Mean When Electrical Equipment “Fails” Test and Tag?

Under AS/NZS 3760:2022, every piece of portable electrical equipment tested is checked against a set range of visual, electrical, and functional criteria. A “fail” simply means the equipment didn’t meet one or more of those criteria on the day it was tested.

Common reasons equipment fails include damaged or frayed power cords, cracked or broken plugs, exposed wiring, insulation resistance readings outside the safe range, and earth continuity faults on equipment that should be properly earthed. Sometimes the fault is obvious to the eye — a visibly damaged cord, for instance. Other times, it’s picked up only through the electrical testing itself, which is exactly why regular testing matters even when equipment looks fine on the surface.

What Happens Immediately After a Failed Test

When equipment fails, our technician tags it clearly as out of service and removes it from use on the spot. This isn’t optional — a piece of equipment that’s failed testing shouldn’t be plugged in or used again until the fault is resolved and it’s been retested.

You’ll also receive a clear compliance report noting exactly what failed and why, so there’s no ambiguity about what happened or what needs to happen next.

Do You Need to Repair or Replace Failed Equipment?

Once equipment has failed, you generally have two options: repair it, or replace it. Which makes more sense usually comes down to the age of the item, the cost of repair versus a replacement, and how critical that piece of equipment is to your operation.

It’s worth noting that CPM Test n Tag and Fire Safety doesn’t carry out repairs ourselves. We focus purely on testing — which means there’s no financial incentive for us to tell you something needs replacing when a simple repair would do, or vice versa. Our job is to give you an accurate, unbiased result so you can make the call that’s right for your business.

Can CPM Retest Equipment After It’s Been Repaired?

Yes. If you have a faulty item repaired by a qualified electrician or appliance repairer, we can retest that equipment once the repair is complete. This confirms the fix has resolved the fault and that the item is safe to bring back into service, with a fresh compliance tag and updated documentation.

What Does a Failed Test Mean for Your Compliance Obligations?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, businesses have a duty to manage risks in the workplace — and that includes making sure faulty electrical equipment isn’t used until it’s safe. Removing a failed item from service and keeping clear documentation of the fault and its resolution isn’t just good practice, it’s part of meeting that obligation.

Keeping this documentation on file also matters at audit time, for insurance purposes, and if a WorkSafe inspection ever asks how your business manages electrical safety. A failed test that’s properly documented and resolved is evidence your systems are working — an undocumented fault that’s ignored is the real risk.

How to Reduce the Chance of Failed Equipment Down the Track

Regular testing at the intervals set out under AS/NZS 3760:2022 is the single biggest factor in catching faults early, before they become safety issues. Beyond scheduled testing, encouraging staff to do a quick visual check before using any equipment — looking for damaged cords, cracked plugs, or exposed wiring — helps catch obvious problems between test cycles.

Automatic reminders for your next retest also help make sure equipment doesn’t quietly slip out of date, which is why we set these up for every CPM client as standard.

Book Your Electrical Testing and Tagging with CPM

Whether you’re due for your next round of testing or want to understand more about what to expect, CPM Test n Tag and Fire Safety is here to help. Contact us today for a free quote or to schedule your electrical testing and tagging services appointment.