Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing)

The commonly used name for Portable Appliance Testing is PAT Testing.  Saying PAT Testing is actually a tautology as we are repeating the word “Testing”, however, as the term is now in common use it is unlikely that it will ever change.  Who are we to say it is wrong!

The UK provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires that “every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adopted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided”.

This is supplemented by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1998 that states “as may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.”

The HSE in the UK have published a good guide on “Maintaining portable electrical appliances in offices and other low-risk environments” and this guide explains the differences between the kind of checks necessary for double insulated, low voltage and earthed electrical equipment.

Whilst, it is quite feasible for a competent person to be appointed from within your own organisation to review, test and record the findings the question is it a good use of your own resource when the cost of a professional review and test is so little?

We believe that using a professional external source means that the task will not only be completed professionally and competently but also at a time that the situation demands rather than waiting until it is suitable for someone to train, buy the necessary equipment and then complete the task when they are free from their normal duties.