PAT testing is not a legal requirement, but businesses should still conduct inspections to ensure they comply with health and safety regulations. It is also an excellent way to keep employees safe and ensure equipment works correctly.
Electrical items needing PAT testing include everything from kettles and computers to photocopiers and vending machines. They should all undergo a visual inspection before they can be tested.
Calibration
PAT testing is not a legal requirement; however, UK legislation states that businesses must maintain their electrical equipment in a safe condition. PAT testing is a very effective way of ensuring this, and it also provides proof that a business has taken steps to comply with regulations.
The first step in PAT testing is to determine the risk level of a piece of electrical equipment or cable. The equipment’s class, how frequently it is used, and its working environment all influence the assessment. Once this is complete, a competent and proficient professional can conduct a visual inspection.
They will then use a PAT tester to check for any faults or signs of damage. PAT testers can be a simple ‘pass/fail’ or more advanced and include tests such as an earth continuity test, insulation resistance test, protective conductor current or touch leakage test, functional check, and wiring polarity. They also provide a record of the results, vital to complying with PAT testing regulations.
Legal Requirements
Most health and safety laws require that any electrical equipment deemed to be hazardous is either PAT-tested or arranged to be tested. This enables businesses to ensure their equipment is safe for their employees and customers.
PAT testing is the easiest way to discover any underlying electrical equipment problems. This can help prevent accidents, such as electric shocks or fires. The tests can also be used to satisfy the requirements of various UK regulations, such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
All electrical equipment employees use, including those who work from home, should be PAT tested. This includes anything from power drills to kettles. Even more significant, seemingly non-portable items, such as photocopiers and vending machines, need to be PAT tested if they plug into a power source. The only exception is if they are connected to a fixed installation or generator. A qualified electrician must inspect and test These types of appliances.
Identifying High-Risk Environments
While PAT testing is not a legal requirement in the UK, it is an accepted method for ensuring business equipment is safe to use and complies with work regulations set by The Health and Safety Executive. Any piece of electrical equipment that uses a cable and socket to get power qualifies for PAT testing. For low-risk environments, a maintenance employee can conduct a visual inspection. Still, if a high-risk environment like a construction site is involved, the person conducting PAT tests should be highly qualified and have completed a pat testing course.
Rental properties, such as apartments and rental cars, are another group of businesses that regularly need PAT testing on their electrical equipment. This ensures the safety of people renting these spaces and is an integral part of their duty to provide a safe working environment. A PAT tester can mark appliances with a dated sticker that lets the property owner or tenants know it has been tested.
Training
Most businesses rely on outside PAT testing companies to do their tests, but staff members can complete a training course and become fully certified to carry out the test themselves. A good course will teach delegates how to perform a visual inspection and the regulations and technical side of using a PAT tester.
Electrical equipment that needs to be PAT tested will include any item that uses a plug and socket, including electric drills, monitors, printers, PCs, and kettles. Power cords that will be used with these items should also be PAT tested, but a cordless power tool’s battery charger does not need to be.
Specific equipment categories will need PAT tested more frequently than others, with category 1 being the most hazardous and class 3 being the least. Some organizations will put a dated sticker on tested appliances to indicate when they were last done.
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