The Big Question

Compliance with Health & Safety regulations should be important for your company as it safeguards your employees and customers and even your business as a whole. 

Portable Appliance Testing or PAT Testing as it is better known as, helps to ensure that you as the Duty Holder comply with various Health & Safety regulations. 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

Your insurance company may insist that you carry out PAT Testing for your public liability and employer’s liability cover to be valid. 

We’d recommend checking with your insurance provider if you are not sure.

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. 

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.)

Are you aware that as a employer you are responsible for work issued equipment, whilst employees are working from home. Get your equipment PAT Tested keep safe and keep within regulations to avoid any liabilities.