Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the process by which electrical appliances are routinely checked for safety. PAT is now an important part of health & safety and is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your employees, customers and tenants are safe from injury.
There are many types of equipment that require testing at regular intervals to ensure continued safety; the interval between tests is dependent upon the type of appliance and the environment in which it is used.
In most cases yes; for the equipment to be electrically tested there is a need for most appliances to be unplugged from the mains however this can be dependent upon the item tested and the test carried out. In most cases the item is plugged into the testing device where it is checked.
The item will receive a PASS or FAIL reading. Some items only require a visual check depending on the type of testing that is performed.
No. Legislation states that the person testing the electrical appliances must be a competent person.
Learn more about Electrical Appliance Testing.
The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) gave a legal responsibility to employers for them to take reasonable steps to ensure that no danger results from the use of electrical equipment.
It is therefore recommended that employers have all portable appliances regularly checked and tested to ensure that the items are safe.
A portable electrical appliance is classed as an item of equipment that is not part of a fixed installation, however there is the intention to connect it to a fixed installation.
What this basically means is that any item with a plug is a portable appliance.
Portable Appliance Examples
Here are just a few examples of portable appliances that you would need to have tested.
Tools – electric drills, sanders, planes, jigsaws and cutting equipment.Â
General - kettles, microwaves, fridges, toasters, hair dryers, extension leads and vending Machines.
Computing – PCs, printers, monitors, photocopiers.
