PAT TESTING EXPLAINED

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PROVIDE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Portable Appliance Inspection and Testing or PAT Testing as it is sometimes referred to, is an important part of any Health & Safety Policy. If your working environment has any electrical appliances with a plug attached, then these are classed as Portable Appliances. Some examples are shown on this page. To minimise the risk of a potential fire or the risk of an electric shock to either an employee or the general public, or for insurance purposes, it is important to have these appliances safety tested to promote a safe working environment.

The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is outlined in:

  • Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
  • The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
  • The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992
  • The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations1992

The purpose of the Electricity at Work Regulations is to prevent death or injury to anyone from any electrical cause as a result of, or in connection with, work activities. For Example: the act quotes:

"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger"

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts on employers a general duty of care to their employees. Specifically it quotes:

"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and the Welfare at work of all his/hers employee"

also:

"an employers duty includes the provision and maintenance of plant and systems at work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health;…"
The above legislation is just a small example of what is required. It clearly identifies the importance of providing safe electrical equipment within the work place, Portable Appliance Testing ensures all electrical portable equipment is safe to use at the time of testing

Here are some examples of recent faults found by Norwood's Electrical Engineers during inspection and testing

plug tops will crack and break if a desk is banged against one

appliance flex wears over time - a nasty shock waiting to happen

computer leads trapped by a desk can cause problems over time

the wrong level fuse in a desk fan

too many plugs for one extension lead…they work fine but are they safe?
It may be surprising to know, that some employers still overlook portable appliance testing and regard it as a risk worth taking. What do you think?

 
© Norwood Electrical (UK) Limited