Portable Appliance Testing

Portable Appliance Testing (often referred to as PAT testing, or more correctly, In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment) is a basic legal requirement of all employers and most business owners, yet it is often overlooked.

Who says I have to do it?

The following legislation is relevant to electrical appliances in the workplace:

• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

Injury or injuries caused by faulty electrical equipment under the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989 may be liable for £20,000 fine for each offence in a magistrates court or unlimited fines/prison sentences in Crown Court.

In addition, it is a condition of most insurers that your business is compliant with all relevant legislation. In the event of any claims for personal injury or fire, your insurers (and possibly any investigating bodies such as the HSE) will ask for proof that your electrical appliances were subject to a programme of regular inspection and testing.

This does not have to be a problem

PAT testing is one of the areas that RED Electrical can be of service to you. Whether you are a shopkeeper, have an office or are a landlord, we can inspect and test all your appliances and provide the appropriate certification.

Unlike many of our competitors however, we are often able to rectify faults as we go along. For example, when we recently PAT tested at Cafe Artisan in Rawtenstall, out of 78 items tested only 2 had to be discarded, both of which were 4-way extension leads. The remaining 76 either passed the tests straight away, or we were able to repair them to achieve a pass. Not bad for a busy kitchen and bar!

We can even tailor a full maintenance package to your business, including inspection and testing of your fixed wiring, switches and sockets etc, fire alarm testing and emergency lighting testing.