PAT Testing, Regulations and Responsibilities

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Legislation expands the rules set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, with the most common method of compliance being PAT Testing. 

Most Insurance companies will expect you to perform a Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISITEE) to ensure that you are compliant with certain regulations including:   

• The Health And Safety At Work Act 1974: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents
• The Electricity at Work Regulations of 1989: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635/contents/made
• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306/contents/made
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made

It is a legal requirement that you keep your equipment well-maintained to protect your employees and customers from harm. Under the regulations above, you must keep electrical equipment safe. This is to prevent staff and customer injury, as well as damage to buildings. 

It is also the employers responsibility for work issued electrical equipment, whilst employees are on-site or working from home.

PAT Testing can help identify not only visible risks but invisible risks using specialist equipment. This will result in a piece of electrical equipment passing or failing inspection. The most effective way to ensure your electrical equipment is safe is by carrying out regular PAT Testing.

PAT Testing in the workplace can be carried out with social distancing measures taken and we can always work around your business hours. PAT Testing is a vital part of your Health and Safety provision. The process tests portable equipment for electrical safety and helps to ensure a safe working environment. 

The Health & Safety Executive states that a quarter of all accidents with electrical equipment are based around portable appliances. To combat this, regulations protect workers by placing a legal responsibility on employers, employees and even self-employed workers to comply with legislation – and take steps to protect themselves. This requires regular systems of maintenance, inspection and testing. The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) applies in the following circumstances:  

• Where appliances are used by employees.
• Where appliances are supplied and/or hired.
• Where appliances are repaired and/or serviced.
• Where the public may use appliances (hospitals, schools, hotels, shops etc.)