Archive for the ‘Electrical Appliance Testing’ Category

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Student PAT Testing for University / College

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Are you a student about to leave home for the first time to live in rented accommodation or your new University’s campus? If you are,  you may be required to have all of  your electrical appliances tested to allow you to stay at your chosen residence.

It is the responsibility of your landlord / Site Manager to ensure that electrical items are safe to use. Because of this,  it is becoming increasingly common for landlords to need proof that all electrical items are safe prior to their use in the building that they maintain.

For insurance purposes it is highly likely that they may have already tested permanent electrical fixtures within the the accommodation however you may be required to do the same for your own appliances too.

Hallmarque PAT are a friendly family business who offer competent and efficient electrical testing at competitive rates.

To discuss your requirements and receive a free quote please contact us using any of the methods below.

Telephone: 01673 860655

E-mail: enquiries@hallmarquepat.co.uk.

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Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Electrical Safety, Electrical Testing, PAT Testing, PAT Testing Services | Comments Off

How do I know if someone is competent to do electrical work?

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

A person can demonstrate competence to perform electrical work if he or she has successfully completed an assessed training course that has included the type of work being considered, run by an accredited training organisation, and has been able to demonstrate an ability to understand electrical theory and put this into practice.

A successfully completed electrical apprenticeship, with some post apprenticeship experience is a good way of demonstrating competence for general electrical work. More specialised work such as maintenance of high voltage switchgear or control system modification is almost certainly likely to require additional training and experience.

[Source: HSE]

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Electrical Safety, Electrical Testing, PAT Testing, Portable Appliance Testing | Comments Off

How often should I test my electrical equipment?

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Electrical equipment should be visually checked to spot early signs of damage or deterioration. Equipment should be more thoroughly tested by a competent person often enough that there is little chance that the equipment will become dangerous between tests. Equipment that is used in a harsh environment should be tested more frequently than equipment that is less likely to become damaged or unsafe.

It is good practice to assess how often equipment being used for work purposes should be tested, write down your findings, make sure the testing is carried out, and write down the results of the tests.

[Source: HSE]

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Electrical Safety, Electrical Testing | Comments Off

Worker received shock whilst using a pressure washing machine

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

A worker received a 240 Volt electric shock whilst using a pressure water washing machine. An investigation found the company had failed to: a) maintain the washer, b) provide a safe system of work and c) notify the existence of the factory to HSE. There was a high potential for serious injury from contact with 240 Volt electricity supply when using water washing equipment.

Action

The company was prosecuted under The Factories Act 1961 (except section 135), Section 137, Sub Section 1, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (No 4) paragraph 2, and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (No 4) paragraph 1, and fined.

Comment

All work equipment should be regularly checked to ensure it is safe to use. A visual check each day, or each time the equipment is used is likely to identify many of the potential electrical faults. Work equipment should also be thoroughly tested regularly. This should be done frequently enough that there is little chance a fault will develop that will lead to danger.

In general, equipment used in harsh environments such as building sites or outdoors will need more regular testing than equipment used in an office environment. It is a good idea to note down your decision on the frequency of testing for each item of equipment and then ensure the tests are carried out. It is also a good idea to note down the results of each test so that deterioration can be spotted as early as possible.

You should regularly review your frequency of testing and change it according to the number and type of defects found.

[Source: HSE]

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Portable Appliance Testing | Comments Off

PAT Testing for Musicians

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

It is becoming increasingly common for live music venues such as pubs and clubs to request proof from musicians that their equipment has been competently checked / PAT Tested for electrical safety.

Over the years, Dale has been involved in many bands and has unfortunately witnessed how injuries can occur when using electrical appliances within the music industry. Due to these events, Dale is keen to stress the importance of safety to groups who perform in pubs and clubs and recommends regular testing of their equipment. Items include, but are not limited to amps, lights, sound systems and equalizers.

Dale believes in keeping music live and in particular helping to make sure musicians and the general public are kept safe. His unparalleled drive and enthusiasm to achieve this is demonstrated by a discounted rate for musical groups and others connected to the music industry including stage lighting.

Please do not hesitate to contact us today for your tailored quote.

Telephone: 01673 860655
Mobile: 0777 351 3371

E-mail: enquiries@hallmarquepat.co.uk

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Electrical Testing, PA Testing, PAT News, PAT Testing, PAT Testing Services, Portable Appliance Testing | Comments Off

PAT Testing for Landlords

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Each year over 30 people are killed due to faulty electrics in the UK. These deaths in most part are avoidable and landlords are been urged to carry out regular PAT test on all portable appliances in rented properties and accommodation to make sure the appliances are safe for tenants to use and meet legal requirements.

Government statistics show 20% of fires in UK homes is due to electrical faults and in 2008 resulted in 27 deaths and 1000 injuries. Under UK law a landlord, without a regular pat test of appliances, could be found to have failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their tenants. This could lead to the landlord been liable to imprisonment, fines or even their property insurance been invalid.

It is vital a landlord understands their legal obligations when it come to potable appliances and testing in their rented properties. The landlord must make sure that any appliances provided as part of the tenancy agreement are safe.

[Source: landlordexpert.co.uk]

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Electrical Testing, PA Testing, PAT Testing, PAT Testing Services, Portable Appliance Testing | Comments Off

How to avoid being a shocking landlord

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

With over 30 people killed each year by faulty electrics in the UK, safety specialists First Stop Safety are urging landlords to carry out regular testing on all portable electrical devices in rented properties to ensure they are safe for tenants and meet all legal requirements.

According to government statistics released last month almost a fifth of all fires in UK homes are caused by electrical faults. In 2008 this resulted in 27 deaths and over 1000 injuries. In addition to the risk of house fires almost 14,000 people are injured each year by electrical appliances according to the latest government estimates.

As the number of portable electrical appliances in furnished rented properties continues to increase, from cookers, to TV’s, to stereos and games consoles, portable appliance testing (PAT) is becoming an increasingly important part of a landlords responsibility to ensure their properties are safe and fit for purpose.

Under UK law without regular PAT tests a landlord could be found to have failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their tenants, and leave themselves liable to fines, imprisonment and invalidation of their property insurance.

[Source: residentiallandlord.co.uk]

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, Electrical Testing, PA Testing, PAT News, PAT Testing, PAT Testing Services, Portable Appliance Testing | Comments Off

Landlord PAT

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

If you are a landlord, renting accommodation such as houses, flats, holiday homes, caravans, etc, there is a legal requirement to ensure the safety of your tenants. This requirement extends to any electrical equipment that is provided as part of the tenancy which should include operating instructions and safety notices supplied before a letting commences.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 states that electrical equipment, provided with the accommodation, must be safe to use. This means that landlords are responsible for the safety of tenants and should regularly maintain any electrical equipment supplied with the accommodation.

It is recommended that the landlord, as a minimum, visually check each appliance for safety prior to the next tenants arrival; frequent checks are encouraged to ensure the safety of all tenants. One of the easiest ways to minimise the risk of injury from a portable electrical appliance is to have these devices PAT tested.
Hallmarque PAT are a friendly family business who offer competent and efficient electrical testing at competitive rates. To discuss your requirements and receive a free quote please call 01673 860655 or e-mail enquiries@hallmarquepat.co.uk.

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Electrical Safety

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Electricity can kill. Each year about 1000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Around 30 of these are fatal. Most of these fatalities arise from contact with overhead or underground power cables.

Even non-fatal shocks can cause severe and permanent injury. Shocks from faulty equipment may lead to falls from ladders, scaffolds or other work platforms. Those using electricity may not be the only ones at risk: poor electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances can lead to fires which may also cause death or injury to others. Most of these accidents can be avoided by careful planning and straightforward precautions.

What are the Hazards?

The main hazards are:

  • contact with live parts causing shock and burns (normal mains voltage, 230 volts AC, can kill);
  • faults which could cause fires;
  • fire or explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in a potentially flammable or explosive atmosphere, e.g. in a spray paint booth.

  (more…)

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Student PAT Testing

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

If you are a student living away from home in rented accommodation, you may be required to have your electrical appliances tested in order to allow you to stay at your chosen residence. It is the responsibility of your landlord to ensure that electrical items are safe to use. As such, it is becoming increasingly common for landlords to need proof that all electrical items are safe prior to their use.

For insurance purposes it is highly likely that they may have already tested permanent electrical fixtures within the property however you may be required to do the same for your own appliances.

Hallmarque PAT are a friendly family business who offer competent and efficient electrical testing at competitive rates. To discuss your requirements and receive a free quote please call 01673 860655 or e-mail enquiries@hallmarquepat.co.uk.

Posted in Electrical Appliance Testing, PAT Testing, PAT Testing Services | Comments Off

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