"Once a year" is the answer many people expect. It is a common habit, but it is not a universal rule, and a blanket annual promise can be either more or less than a particular workplace needs.

What WorkSafe says

WorkSafe New Zealand describes test and tag as one way to check electrical equipment, rather than a blanket mandatory requirement for every workplace. What does not change is the underlying duty: electrical equipment at work must be electrically safe and properly maintained.

That means the question is less "how often does the law say?" and more "what plan keeps our equipment safe, given how we use it?" Your situation may also involve additional requirements, for example from a lease, an insurer, a client contract or an industry code. Check those before settling on an interval.

What affects the right interval

A sensible retest plan looks at the equipment itself and the conditions it works in:

  • Equipment type. A monitor that sits on a desk for years is in a very different position from an extension lead that is moved, stood on and rolled up every week.
  • How it is used. Equipment that is moved often, shared or carried between sites is more likely to suffer damage to plugs, cords and casings.
  • The environment. Kitchens, workshops, storerooms and damp or dusty areas are harder on equipment than a tidy office floor.
  • History. If previous visits found damaged leads in a particular area, that area may warrant a shorter interval.
  • Your own policy. Some organisations set a fixed cycle for simplicity. That is a reasonable choice, as long as it is a deliberate one.

The joint Australian/New Zealand standard for in-service safety inspection and testing (AS/NZS 3760) is one recognised reference for this kind of risk-based approach. If you rely on it, make sure you are working from the current edition.

A test is a snapshot

A test result records the condition of an item at the time it was inspected and tested. It does not guarantee the item will stay safe until the next visit.

That is why a retest date should never replace everyday checks. Encourage staff to look for, and report:

  • damaged or frayed cords and exposed wires
  • cracked plugs or casings
  • scorch marks, burning smells or overheating
  • equipment that has been dropped or got wet

Anything like this should be taken out of use and dealt with straight away, regardless of what the tag says.

How we approach intervals

When we agree the scope of an office visit, we discuss the equipment, the environment and any requirements you already have. The retest recommendation in your asset register reflects that conversation, and the register records the reason for each recommendation, so you can see why a kitchen kettle might be on a shorter cycle than a desk monitor.

If you already have an internal policy, tell us before the visit and we will work with it.

Quick summary

  • There is no single retest interval for every workplace.
  • Equipment type, use, environment and any additional requirements all shape the plan.
  • A test is a snapshot, not a guarantee of future safety.
  • Ongoing visual checks by staff matter as much as the scheduled visit.