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Does your business need a PAT tester?

Article Submitted by: Paul Wheater

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

It is claimed, by the Health and Safety Executive, that more than 2000 fires are caused every year by imperfect 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 switch 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 confirmation 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 dependable 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 supplementary 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 lead in undamaged condition?
Is the cable secure where it enters the plug?
The power cable should be free from cuts, fraying and damage.
Has the lead been tinkered with at all i.e. are there any hand-made or taped joints?

The Appliance itself

Is it running how it was designed to work?
Does is switch on and off properly?

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, including the following:-

Cord Test - This tests stability 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 following 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.

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Ensure your company is protected from faulty electrical appliances by contacting a reputable PAT testing company now!

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