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Electrical safety checklist

Most workplace electrical incidents involve ordinary equipment: a damaged lead, an overloaded board, a missing RCD, a repair attempted by someone unqualified. This checklist covers the routine inspection any competent person can run, and is explicit about the line between that and work only a licensed electrician may do.

Who it's for: health and safety managers, facilities and maintenance staff, office managers, and supervisors responsible for portable equipment.

Free to use and adapt · Last updated 2026-08-02 · No email required

Who may do what

Inspection date
Area or site inspected
Inspected by, and role
Electrical contractor used, and licence number

Visual inspection of leads and equipment, and reporting faults, can be done by any trained worker. Electrical installation work, repairs, and work on or near live parts are restricted to licensed or otherwise authorised electrical workers, and the restrictions are set by the electrical safety law in your jurisdiction as well as by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Nothing in this checklist authorises anyone to open equipment, work on a switchboard or repair a lead. If a check fails, the equipment comes out of service and a licensed electrician is engaged.

Leads, plugs and portable equipment

  • No cuts, nicks, crushing, melting or exposed conductors on any flexible lead
  • Plugs and sockets undamaged, with no cracked bodies, bent pins or scorch marks
  • No taped repairs anywhere on a lead. A taped lead is removed from service, not patched
  • Cord grips intact, with no conductors visible where the cord enters plug or appliance
  • Leads are not run through doorways, under mats or across walkways where they can be crushed or create a trip hazard
  • Leads are not coiled tightly while carrying load, which causes heating
  • Double adaptors and piggyback plugs are not in use
  • Power boards are the type with overload protection, are not daisy chained, and are not overloaded
  • Equipment is suited to the environment, including wet, dusty or outdoor areas
  • Portable equipment is switched off and unplugged when not in use where appropriate

Residual current devices

RCDs are the control that turns a fault into a nuisance instead of a fatality, but only if they still work. Record the push-button test, and note that a push-button test is not the same as the periodic test by an electrician.

  • RCD protection is provided where required for the circuits and equipment in use
  • Push-button tests are done at the interval in your procedure and the results recorded
  • Any RCD that fails to trip on test is reported and the circuit taken out of service
  • Workers know where the RCDs and isolation points are, and how to isolate in an emergency
RCD location or circuitTypePush-button test dateResultLast electrician testNext due
      
      
      
      

Switchboards and fixed installation

  • Switchboards are closed, secured and free of stored items
  • Clear access is maintained in front of every board, and the space is not used for storage
  • Circuits are labelled legibly and the labelling matches reality
  • No signs of overheating, scorching, arcing, burning smell or buzzing
  • No exposed live parts, missing blanks or unsecured covers
  • Board is protected from water ingress and mechanical damage
  • Emergency isolation points are identified, accessible and unobstructed
  • Periodic inspection of the fixed installation is current, and the report is on file

Test and tag register

Testing intervals depend on the equipment, the environment and the requirements that apply in your jurisdiction, and are shorter in harsh environments such as construction. Record the interval you are applying and its source rather than assuming an annual cycle.

Testing interval requirement applied, and its source From the standard or regulation that applies to you, and your own procedure
Item and asset numberLocationTest interval appliedLast testedResultNext dueTester
       
       
       
       
       

Work practices

  • Nobody works on or near live parts except where it is unavoidable, authorised and controlled
  • Isolation and lock-out procedures are used and understood, and isolation is verified by test
  • Damaged equipment is tagged out and physically removed from service, not left plugged in
  • Faults are reported through a route people actually use, and repairs are done by licensed workers
  • Location of buried and concealed services is confirmed before drilling, cutting or excavating
  • Overhead powerline clearances are checked before plant, ladders or scaffold are moved
  • Workers know what to do if someone is in contact with electricity: isolate first, never touch the person, then call 111
  • Emergency response and first aid arrangements cover electric shock, including that anyone shocked is medically assessed

Faults found and actions

Item and locationFaultAction taken nowReferred to electrician (Y/N)OwnerDate cleared
      
      
      
How to use it

Getting the most out of this template

  • Run the visual checks often and the formal testing on its proper interval. Most failures are visible before they are dangerous.
  • Tag out and physically remove failed equipment. Items left plugged in with a note attached get used.
  • Teach every worker the two-second lead check before plugging anything in. It catches most faults.
  • Keep the test and tag register in a place the next tester can find, so intervals do not silently lapse.
  • After any electric shock, however minor it seems, the person is medically assessed and the circuit is investigated before reuse.

This template is general information, not legal advice. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and industry; check the guidance published by WorkSafe New Zealand and seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Questions

Frequently asked

How often does equipment need to be tested and tagged?
It depends on the type of equipment, the environment it is used in, and the requirements that apply in your jurisdiction, with harsher environments such as construction requiring far shorter intervals than an office. Confirm the interval with WorkSafe New Zealand or the standard that applies to you, and record which one you are working to.
Can our maintenance person repair a damaged lead?
Only if they hold the licence or authorisation required for electrical work where you are. Replacing or repairing a lead is generally electrical work. Taping a damaged lead is never acceptable regardless of who does it. The safe default is to remove the item from service and engage a licensed electrician.
Do we need RCDs everywhere?
Requirements vary by jurisdiction, circuit type and the work being done, and are generally stricter for portable equipment, outdoor use and construction. Confirm what applies to your installation with a licensed electrician and WorkSafe New Zealand. Where RCDs are fitted, they must be tested on a schedule or they cannot be relied on.
What do we do if someone gets an electric shock?
Do not touch the person while they may still be in contact with the supply. Isolate the supply first, then call 111 and begin first aid if trained. Anyone who has received a shock should be medically assessed even if they feel fine, because cardiac effects can be delayed. Take the equipment out of service and have the circuit investigated before anyone uses it again.
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