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Archive for the ‘PA Testing’ Category
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Sunday, January 8th, 2012PAT Tester Lincoln
Monday, November 22nd, 2010Do you need to get your portable appliances tested? Are you looking for a reliable and qualified PAT tester? Look no further than Hallmarque PAT!
For your free PAT testing quote please contact us using any of the following methods.
Telephone: 01673 860655
Mobile: 0777 351 3371
E-mail: enquiries@hallmarquepat.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
PAT Testing for Musicians
Saturday, February 6th, 2010It 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
PAT Testing for Landlords
Thursday, January 7th, 2010Each 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]
How to avoid being a shocking landlord
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009With 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]
Electrical Safety
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009Electricity 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.
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Visual Inspection
Saturday, July 4th, 2009Visual 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.
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Maintenance of equipment
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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
- Â 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.
Who is Responsible?
Thursday, June 4th, 2009The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, PUWER, states that every employer shall ensure that work equipment, is suitable for the purpose in which it is used. It is also the responsibility of the employer to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 identifies that both employers and employees have a responsibility with regards to electrical safety. It is the duty of the employer or self-employed person to comply with the provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control.
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work-
 (a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable any duty placed on that employer by the provisions of these Regulations to be complied with; and
 (b) to comply with the provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control.
As an employer, one of the easiest ways to ensure portable appliances within the work place are safe to use is to have them PAT tested.
Do Hallmarque PAT test / service their own testing equipment?
Friday, May 29th, 2009Hallmarque PAT use sophisticated PAT instruments and as such it is important to make sure that these continually measure / test correctly. Hallmarque PAT follows the recommended guidelines, annual calibration, at a minimum and has the respective equipment calibrated by a third party. When a PAT Tester is calibrated it is re-configured to match the original specification.
Why do you say PAT Testing and not PA Testing?
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009Portable Appliance Testing is abbreviated to PAT. The phrase PAT Testing is in fact a tautology, in the same way that some people say “LCD Display”. However, the phrase is commonly used in the industry, even though most people realise it is incorrect. The correct term for the whole process is In-service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment (as defined by IET/IEE and City and Guilds).
