Pat Testing
Almost every person responsible for Health and Safety in the workplace as part of their statutory compliance work has, at some point, had to consider the importance of PAT testing for their business.
So what are PAT tests?
Portable Appliance Testing is simply a way of checking electrical items to ensure that they do not pose a danger.
The Facts:
British law (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. A competent person must inspect the installation regularly in any public building or a place that people work; private houses do not need this test. Guidance from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET, published under the IEE brand) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest initial intervals for combined inspection and testing that range from three months (for construction equipment) to one year for inspection and, in many cases, longer periods for testing (certain types of appliance in schools, hotels, offices and shops).
This is a recommendation designed especially for those premises whereby electrical equipment is likely to come into contact with members of the public or multiple occupancy homes.
Our clients’ sectors vary widely but they ALL choose to carry out annual PAT tests for their electrical equipment, please see some examples of these:
Public Houses – From cellar and kitchen equipment to phone chargers, we offer an annual service completing the PAT test of any electrical equipment available for use on site. Records are maintained and stored here in Peterborough electronically to ensure they are only an email away should they be called upon.
Children’s/Care Homes – Working in line with OSFTED regulations, our engineers attend on a date and time convenient to the home manager. Again, everything with a plug on will be tested and recorded. Any failures are disabled and highlighted there and then to the management team onsite to avoid the use of any noncompliant equipment.
Construction Contractors – With more and more construction companies relying on subcontractors to support their in house engineers the demand for power hand tool PAT testing has greatly increased. More and more of the larger clients demand that all Hand power tools are tested and certification supplied before a contractor may be allowed on site. Our PAT test station here in Peterborough is a convenient service provider for this and certification can even be mailed to your main contractor ahead of your arrival.
Local DJ’s / Events providers – All electrical equipment that will be using a venues power source often require proof of PAT test before being the event provider is able to secure an event. Again our local PAT test station has proved invaluable to mobile DJ’s, disco providers and mobile catering units alike.
These are just a few of the scenarios that Absolute caters for, whether that service is carried out onsite or more often recently, here in our Peterborough Head Office.
Our PAT test station based here in Morley Court offers a solution to suit those who are out on the road with their equipment and find it far more convenient to drop in on a day that suits them rather than to try and book a day out onsite which helps prevent unnecessary downtime.
Give us a call on 01733 375 900 to book your equipment in today!
Sara Walton – PAT test engineer