BFE Electrical Testing Ltd PAT Testing Information

WHY PAT TESTING?

The Health & Safety Executive states that 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances. The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) place a legal responsibility on employers, employees and self-employed persons to comply with the provisions of the regulations and take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that no danger results from the use of such equipment. This in effect requires the implementation of a systematic and regular program of maintenance, inspection and testing. The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) places a clear responsibility on both occupiers of premises and employers to ensure that the workplace is maintained in a safe condition to protect employees, visitors, trainees, guests and cleaners from danger.

WHAT IS A PORTABLE APPLIANCE?

For the purpose of the legislation, aportable electrical appliance is taken to be an item of equipment which is not part of a fixed installation but is, or is intended to be, connected to fixed installation, or a generator, by means of a flexible cable and a plug and socket. Phew, heavy stuff eh? In layman's terms this means that any item with a plug is Portable Appliance. This would include electric drills, kettles, PCs, printers, monitors, extension lead and even some large items such as vending machines and photocopiers.

HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE ITEMS TESTED?

There is no specific schedule set out. There are however guidelines to help. The frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and the enviroment in which it is used. For example a high-risk item such as an electric drill should be tested more frequently than a low risk item such as a PC. Furthermore a drill that is used everyday in a high density manufacturing plant should be tested more frequently than a drill used only occasionally in an office environment. Essentially it is the responsibility of the employer to assess the risk involved and implement it's own programme of testing. Most companies still opt for a blanket test of all equipment on an annual basis to ensure conformity.

DO I HAVE TO KEEP RECORDS?

Once again, the guidelines are sketchy as to the necessity of testing records. It should be viewed as best practice to adopt a register of all Portable Appliance Teasting, with this in mind BFE Electrical Testing Ltd provide a record of this with your certificate. In this way we are able to demonstrate that we have safely maintained the equipment within our control.