If you don’t know what it means, portable appliance testing (PAT), is an inspection of electrical equipment in a building to make sure that it is safe to use and in good working order. The law in some countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand necessitates a business to maintain safe working conditions, including functional portable devices. This means that they may need to undertake periodic PAT testing in order to check their equipment, although this testing is not legally required unless it appears to be necessary.
The inspection and testing of electrical equipment, as the law construes it, decrees that employers should regularly check portable appliances used in and around the workplace. This can be as easy as a quick visual inspection to check for frayed wires, loose fittings and other signs of problems. Should an appliance be malfunctioning or looks like it might be in the danger zone, the employer can simply arrange for PAT testing. Professional electricians can expertly examine the equipment, run some checks, and then determine whether it needs maintenance, repair, or replacement.
Tagging and Guarantee
Following an inspection, an electrician will usually label the appliance to give information about when it was last tested and what the results of the testing was. PAT testing in Hampshire, will also result in the making of a detailed log which will be filled in with maintenance and purchasing history and records. If there happens to be a safety problem in the workplace, auditors can then exam this information. Employers should employ expert routine testing to demonstrate their care and attentiveness, but they can also simply make a note of when an appliance was last visually inspected for any problem.
Appliances which are sent out for repair or retrofitting are also subject to PAT testing. The electrician who carries out the work should test and certify the equipment as safe for use. It is in some cases, also possible to ask for a third party inspection. Electricians will guarantee their work over a set period of time, and then offer free repairs or compensation should any problems occur, and it was clearly their work that was at fault.
Safety is Safety
Any business which is uncertain about whether they need PAT testing can easily consult professional electricians or a government safety representative. Information about the relevant sections of the law can be made available, and an electrician or representative can inform you whether testing would be a good idea, given the information about equipment and the working conditions. A desk lamp, for instance, would probably not need a detailed inspection from an electrician every six months.
However, light equipment used on building sites, would certainly benefit from an annual safety check for common electrical problems due to it being prone to shorts and other kinds of issues due to its heavy use.
It’s in all of our best interests to make sure that our surroundings are safe and in good working order, just make sure that yours are!