Portable Appliance Testing is the examination and testing of electrical appliances and test equipment to ensure that they are safe to use. The process involves a visual inspection followed by a thorough test using a calibrated portable appliance testing machine by a competent person.
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the best way to to show that you are complying with Health & Safety regulations including Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1992 and Working With Electricity Regulations 1999.
All employer’s that employ 5 or more people are required by law to carry out a risk assessment on all the hazards in their workplace, and detail the control measures to reduce the risk. Getting your business PAT tested is a control measure you can add to your fire risk assessment to show your electrical equipment has been professionally maintained, checked and tested.
Most insurance companies now require all business owners to have an in date PAT test certificate, as do accreditation companies such as CHAS, Achilles and SafeContractor. Business’s that are ISO registered should also have a valid PAT test certificate. Getting the electrical items PAT tested in your business should also significantly reduce your business insurance premiums.
This is down to the duty holder to decide in conjunction with their risk assesment. This varies depending on a number of things such as the frequency of use of the equipment and the environment in which it is being used.
For example, it is recommended that electrical tools used on a construction site are tested every three months, because they tend to be used frequently and operated outside in various weather conditions, whereas electrical equipment used infrequently and in warm dry conditions tends are recommended to be tested every 1-2 years.
Anybody can carry out PAT testing as long as they are competent to do so. Competent meaning having the ability, experience, knowledge, training, skill and resources to carry out the testing. All engineers at Redlander PAT Testing Ltd are highly trained and experienced as well as City & Guilds Level 3 2377 certified.
To put it simply, you do not need to keep records by law. However, keeping records is a proactive way of proving you are health and safety compliant. Once PAT testing is carried out at your business, Redlander PAT Testing Ltd will supply you with an equipment register, the results of the test’s carried out and a PAT test certificate. Our engineers will put a pass or fail label on each of your appliances and we will also advise you on best practices for keeping your electrical equipment safe.