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PAT - Portable Appliance Testing #

Posted by Martin Kelly on September 30, 2010, 12:58 am
Message modified by board administrator October 1, 2010, 3:48 pm

Hi, I have had 1 or 2 phone calls a week now for the last 3 weeks telling me that I need all my portable electrical appliances testing for Health and Safety.
Is this a legal requirement? I am a sole trader so don't employ anyone.
Has anyone else had these calls, where do I stand on this?

Thanks, Martin.

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Chrios Collins on September 30, 2010, 10:58 am, in reply to "PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Chris Collins

Hi Martin

You do not need to have a PAT test on your electrical equipment You need to equipment test if you employ more than 3 employes, i have been pesterd by these people? To make shure ask the HSE.

Regards Chris

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Martin Kelly on September 30, 2010, 12:11 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"

Just phoned HSE and they said it is NOT a legal requirement, you do not need an outside company to do this as you can appoint someone within your company to do it.
No stickers on plugs required and so long as electrical appliances are kept in good order nothing more is needed.

Martin.

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Pete Mutlow on September 30, 2010, 7:58 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Peter Mutlow

.....This is interesting to know. I have been pestered for the last year or so by a company who wants to test ALL my plugs in my van and lap-top. Now, instead of telling them to Foxtrot Oscar I can do that with more confidence..

Regards

Pete M

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Nigel Yardley on September 30, 2010, 7:58 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Nigel Yardley

I went on a PATS testing course (C+G), passed, bought a machine off flee-bay, and now do it in house.

I thought you would have to be a registered electrician, but apparently you just have to be "competent".....anyway they still passed me....

the first thing i was told was to throw all the extensions in the bin as they will never pass...

p.s the machine has to be calibrated, but I'm obviously not competent enough for that...

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Tom Williams on October 1, 2010, 10:42 am, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Tom Williams

The old encyclopedia salesmen got a foot in the door by saying they were conducting 'educational research'.
The companies selling expensive and often unecessary PAT testing allude to being quasi-official health and safety organisations.

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Tony Sefton on October 3, 2010, 1:48 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"

We have had the Pats testing done for the last 3 or 4 years, basically thinking that it was a legal requirement. ( I have 3 full time staff )

If it is definitely not a legal Requirement, Is it something that I could or ought stop paying for. ??, Or are there other issues to look at like having it done for Insurance Reasons. ?? Is it the insurance companies that require this rather than the HSE. ???

I am Currently cutting back on and looking into reDucing costs on Telephones, Overall Schemes, Diagnostic tool updates etc as the less we pay out, the easier it should be to make a profit and stop in business through the recession.

I Think its a bit of a Farce when the PATS testers start putting Pats stickers on My Battery drills and laptops as well as the Battery chargers for those items. ?? They Actually once condemned a Battery Drill as the battery casing had been taped up. ( not sure if that would be anything to do with them really )

I had an Extension lead that failed one year, Passed the next Year and then the tester repaired it on the 3rd years Test.

( But we had never used it in betwen, Honest )

Tony.

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Nigel Yardley on October 3, 2010, 6:15 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Nigel Yardley

Hi Tony.....It is not a legal requirement if you are a sole trader, If you have have staff it is (unless I'm mistaken).

Also electrical items that are used by the general public at your site, have to be checked more often e.g coffee machine, water cooler....

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Simon Dean on October 3, 2010, 11:37 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Simon Dean

Tony
It is not a legal requirement even if you have staff.
A competent person can do this(buy your own tester).
I do it every year because if someone got hurt we have a duty of care.......
Insurance companies would look for duty and care in the event of an accident without a doubt

.

Simon

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Tom Williams on October 4, 2010, 1:30 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Tom Williams

The important thing is to record any checks you make on equipment. Update on a yearly basis.
Likewise, you should record the issue of personal protective equipment (PPE) Goggles, earmuffs, dust-masks etc.
Record the fact that the staff have been trained in the safe use of all equipment, including the office shredder.
The assumption of a degree of common sense is no longer an excuse when somebody does something daft.

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by John Ritchie on October 6, 2010, 8:09 pm, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
John Ritchie

Hi all , i had an insurance risk assessment last month and one of the things that was pointed out to me was the electrics should be pats tested even though i work myself , they said there is a potential risk of a customer getting injured !.
They also mentioned that no portable heaters(gas or electric) are allowed (electric has to be wall mounted) i had to give away my gas heater to be compliant and also portable tools were to be chained to the wall.

Regards

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by Sean Mc Gettigan on October 7, 2010, 7:45 am, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
Sean McGettigan

'and also portable tools were to be chained to the wall.'

Changes the defination of portable tools somewhat me thinks!

Regards John
Sean

Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

Posted by John Ritchie on October 7, 2010, 8:09 am, in reply to "Re: PAT - Portable Appliance Testing"
John Ritchie

Exactly Sean !! , doesn't say tool box

Regards
JR
Hope things are keeping busy for you

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