What is PAT testing?

Portable Appliance Testing is the scheduled program of inspection, maintenance and testing that is carried out on a regular basis to ensure that certain items of electrical equipment are kept safe and servicable.
The Health & Safety Executive states that 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances.
The requirement that this testing take place is implied by several HSE regulations (see across) but sometimes directly by a company's liability insurance policy.

This testing should be carried out by suitably trained and qualified persons and consists of three distinct parts:
  • A visual inspection to ensure that all cables and plugs used are of the correct type and not damaged in any way.
  • An Electrical Continuity Test
  • An Insulation Resistance Test

STAY SAFE AT WORK FOR AS LITTLE AS 75P PER ITEM*
Available until 5th April, this offer is ideal for small businesses who are required to have their portable appliances tested yearly.
* For up to 1000 items. For larger amounts please contact us for a quote.

What are the legal requirements?

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts the duty of care upon both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises. This includes the self employed.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 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.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states that:
  • All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.
  • As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.
  • 'System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment
  • 'Electrical Equipment' includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that:
  • Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
  • (a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and
  • (b) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states that:
  • Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
It is clear that the combination of these regulations apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems down to the smallest piece of electrical equipment.

The effect of these acts is that there is a requirement to inspect and test all types of electrical equipment in all work situations.