Government legislation has been in place for a number of years encouraging employers to minimise the risk of accident by electrical fault to meet the safety guidelines, all electrical workplace appliances (Appliances or tools with a 2 or 3 pin plug) should be tested on a regular basis.

The Electricity Act 1992 69b "Electrical Safety- (1) Works, electrical installations, fittings, electrical appliances, and associated equipment must be designed, constructed, maintained, installed and used so as to be electrically safe".

Penalties are up to $10,000 under the Electricity Regulations and have been imposed in New Zealand , and in steps up to $100,000 under the Health and Safety in Employment Act . In the event of an electrical accident occuring in the workplace OSH could use non-compliance with standard AS/NZS 3760 as the basis for any prosecution.

OSH places the duty of care on employers and employees to ensure the safety of everybody at work. They require that, "as may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger".

Whilst testing is not compulsory at present, maintaining safety is and unless you have complied with AS/NZS3760 as a minimum then OSH would not consider you have taken all reasonable steps to provide a safe workplace and would likely use non-compliance with AS/NZS3760 as the basis for prosecution should the need arise.