PAT testing is an acronym or abbreviation for Portable Appliance Test. In the United Kingdom it is the process by which electrical equipment and appliances are tested on a set timetable to ensure that they are safe for workers to use. The correct term for the whole process is call the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires that all electrical systems (including electrical appliances) are maintained (so far as is reasonably practicable) to prevent danger. If employees work with electrical appliances then by law an employer is required to test the equipment for certain criteria. It is very rare that any company does not have portable appliances within its working environment. Everything from computers, PC screens, laptops and laptop leads, printers and photocopiers through to fans and heaters and even kettles and microwave require testing. Anything electrical that is used by staff or tenants requires testing.
The requirement for PAT testing of portable electronic equipment also extends to landlords who let property and those who own care homes. Most types of equipment require regular testing to ensure their continual safety; the interval between tests depending on both the type of appliance and the environment it is used in.
There are no set legal guidelines for the frequency that PAT testing is required for portable electrical devices. The H.S.A states ‘regular inspection of equipment is an essential part of any preventative maintenance program’ but does not go as far as suggesting a time period for the various types of electrical equipment that require PAT testing. This leaves the process open to a liberal interpretation of the term ‘regular’.
Best practice has developed within the industry that yearly PAT tests are the best way to approach issue. Visual checks of the electrical equipment should be carried out more frequently than year intervals. A good visual check can highlight simple defaults such as loose wire, cracked casing, or missing grills and covers. It is vitally important as an employer or landlord that you carry out the required PAT testing to ensure that you are not breaking the law.
Tony Heywood ©
Pat Testing
