Visual inspection of electrical appliances should only be carried out by a person who is competent to do so. Any completed visual inspection of portable appliances undertaken should be documented.

A visual inspection of portable electrical equipment may sound simple however there are a considerable number of aspects to consider.
Suitability of the equipment and its environment

The equipment that is being testing should be suitable for the environment in which it is used or the nature of the work being undertaken. If the equipment is in a particularly hazardous environment this will more than likely affect the frequency of future PAT inspections due to the increased possibility of damage.

 
Maintenance of equipment
 

To ensure that an electrical appliance is safe to use, below is a list of a few recommended checks.

• Any cabling should be situated as to avoid damage such as cuts
• The source of power for the appliance should be easily accessible
• There should be adequate ventilation for the equipment
• Any liquids / fluids should be situated appropriately as to avoid spillage
• The cord of the appliance should not come under strain
•  Multi-way adaptors and trailing sockets should not be overloaded
• No unprotected cables should be run under carpets

To make certain that a portable appliance is being used and maintained correctly, at a minimum; it is recommended that the user should review and follow instructions provided by the manufacturer.

While some items only require a visual check, where possible, Hallmarque PAT endeavour to check appliances both visually and practically. By running physical tests on the equipment this helps to reduce the risk to the user by highlighting any non visible faults. Electrical appliance testing is an important part of health and safety, helping to ensure that your employees, students, residents or customers are kept safe.