Many of these incidents result in a fatality.
The Electricity at Work Regulations place a legal responsibility on employers and the self employed to take all reasonable and practical steps to ensure no danger results from the use of any electrical appliances.
In order to ensure the safety of electrical appliances a systematic and regular schedule of maintenance, inspection and testing was introduced. P.A.T. Portable Appliance Testing, forms a vital part of the Safety at Work Act (1974). All businesses have a duty to prevent harm coming to its employees and its customers. P.A.T. testing is essential to comply with these safety obligations.
Portable electrical equipment is prone to damage caused by the wear and tear of everyday use. This damage can render the appliance dangerous to a user without their knowledge. Without regular testing it is impossible to guarantee the safety of the appliance for user, employee or customer.
An employer’s failure to comply with The Electricity at Work Regulations may result in criminal conviction under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, carrying a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000. Letting agents and landlords may also face damages for failing to comply with a P.A.T. programme.
By not implementing a P.A.T. testing programme you may be rendering your insurance void. Insurance companies have delayed, reduced and even denied claims where untested portable appliances have caused the damage. Recently many insurance companies are requiring P.A.T. testing to be completed before policy renewal.
According to the nature of each appliance, the full P.A.T. test is split up into four different parts. These four stages of the test are outlined below:
The Visual Assessment
This initial part is where the item will looked over for any obvious faults such as damage to the electrical device, flexible cable, the interior and exterior parts of the plug. If any parts are missing these will be noted accordingly at this stage.The Earth Bonding Assessment
This part applies to Class 1 and some Class 3 electrical devices. The reliability of the protective earth connection between the electrical device and the earth pin in the plug will be tested to ensure that there is no danger of exterior of the device developing a current of 230V in the event of a flaw in the electrical insulation.The Insulation Resistance Assessment
This part applies to electrical devices of all classes apart from electronic equipment. The insulation of the electrical device will be tested to confirm that there is no leakage of current which could present not only a decrease in power but also a danger to employees.The Polarity Test
This part applies solely to extension leads. The polarity of the circuit will be checked by making certain that the flex is wired up correctly thus stopping the equipment from being adversely affected should there be a something wrong with the flex.
These tests should be carried out at the intervals based on the guidance given by The Health and Safety Executive and the Institute of Engineering and Technology, as comparing results from previous tests can reveal developing faults in equipment before they present a hazard.