It is claimed, by the Health and Safety Executive, that more than 2000 fires are caused every year by unsound electrical appliances. PAT testing is regarded as the best way to ensure that employees, customers and tenants are protected from the risks of faulty electrical equipment. As an employer or landlord, without regular PAT Testing you could find yourself in a serious situation if an electrical accident were to happen in your premises.
All portable electrical equipment is subject to wear and tear and are all vulnerable to damage due to usage. What most people fail to spot is that this damage, though not openly visible, can alter a once safe appliance into an extremely dangerous one. Regular PAT testing will make sure these faulty items are dealt with in a timely and safe manner.
Failure to accede with the Electrical Regulations may constitute a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 which carries a maximum penalty on summary conviction of a £5,000 fine and/or 6 months imprisonment. Landlords and letting agents could also be sued in Civil Law under the duty of care for failure to ensure the tenants safety and and, as a result, face punitive damages.
Insurance policies are also a concern. Most insurance companies will ask for demonstration of PAT Testing either before providing cover or in the event of a claim. Without the correct documentation you may find yourself uninsured and liable for serious risk. A reputable PAT testing company will supply you with all the evidence you need to keep your records up to date.
Why you need your appliances tested
One of the first things fire officers and health and safety inspectors usually ask to see on any inspection visit is PAT testing records. There are a number of added reasons why appliances should be tested on a regular basis with the most important being:
- to accede with the electricity at work regulations
- to accede with the provision and use of work equipment regulations
- to minimise the risk of fire and injury caused by electrical appliances
- to satisfy your insurance company
- to accede with all health and safety requirements
- to accede with quality assurances
- as part of your fire risk assessment compliance
What does PAT testing involve?
There are two parts to a PAT test. the first part is a formal visual look-over of all electrical equipment and the second part is electrically testing of the appliances using a dedicated portable appliance test instrument.
Part one - the following items of each appliance are inspected
The Power Lead
- Is the power wire in undamaged condition?
- Is the lead secure where it enters the plug?
- The power lead should be free from cuts, fraying and damage.
- Has the lead been fiddled with at all i.e. are there any hand-made or taped joints?
The Appliance itself
- Is it operating how it was designed to work?
- Does is switch on and off accordingly?
The Plug
- Are the cable terminations secure and correct?
- Are there any signs of internal damage, overheating etc?
- Is the cord grip effective?
- Is the correct fuse fitted?
Once the appliance haS passed the visual look-over stage the item is ready for electrical testing, pooling the following:-
Cord Test - This tests integrity of the mains cord terminated with IEC sockets, checking the polarity of the mains conductors, the phase, neutral and earth insulation and the safety earth continuity where an earth conductor is used. This test ensures that the mains cable is safe to use and that next tests on the equipment are not attributed to the mains cord.
Earth Bond / Earth continuity test - The current flowing in the earth circuit verifes that the earth path will carry fault currents in the event of an equipment fault.
Earth Leakage Test - During the earth leakage test, current flowing in the earth lead is monitored to check that no potentially hazardous, voltage-induced, earth leakage paths are created by the operating condiitons.
Ensure that your and your company are adequately protected from faulty electrical equipment by getting in touch with a reputable
PAT testing company now!
