PAT Testing & Electrical Inspection Services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey, London & Throughout the UK
info@nationalpattesting.co.uk
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0845 301 1487
Information
Is PAT Testing important?
"Where there's blame, there's a claim" is a more than often well known phrase that can cost companies thousands of pounds. This is why it has become more and more important than ever to make sure that your company is doing all it can to make the everyday workplace safe for you, your staff and members of the public.
If you have had a recent visit from a Health & Safety representative, Fire Officer or a call from your insurance supplier to renew your policy you may have been asked whether you have had PAT Testing carried out within your property within the last 12months.
If your answer was no, then you could possibly be looking at paying more for your insurance or asked to get your workplace tested before your inspection is passed.
Why you should consider PAT Testing...
- To minimise the risk of fire, shock and injury to all staff members and members of plublic caused by potential electrical faults
- To fulfill the requirements of The Electricity at Work Regulations (more information within the FAQ section)
- To help Health & Safety visits go smoothly and to help prevent any possible insurance cost increases
All NPT's engineers are fully qualified to City & Guilds 2377 standards.
Health & Safety Legislation
Whilst PAT testing is not strictly compulsory, it is generally regarded as being the best way of meeting the electrical regulations that exist to protect employees, customers and tenants.
All portable electrical equipment is subject to getting damaged during use, and this damage could render the equipment dangerous to the user. Without a regular programme of testing and inspection, you have not taken reasonable steps to ensure the safety of users. Without it you could be in a very difficult situation if an electrical accident were to occur.
You can read the legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance below:
Scope Of The LegislationIt is clear that the combination of the HSW Act 1974, the PUWER 1998 and the EAW Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems down to the smallest piece of electrical equipment.
It is clear that there is a requirement to inspect and test all types of electrical equipment in all work situations.
The testing and inspections of all electrical equipment should be made at reasonable and regular intervals, bearing in mind the rate of use of both portable and fixed appliances and conditions they are used in.
We at NPT believe we can help advise and carry out your testing and inspection in keeping you within the legislations above within your workplace whilst keeping the disruption of your employees to an absolute minimum.
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts the duty of care upon both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises. This includes the self employed.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states:
- "All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
- "As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
- "'System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment"
- "'Electrical Equipment' includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy."
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states:
- The workplace and the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be maintained (including cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
- Where appropriate, the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be subject to a suitable system of maintenance.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states:
- Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 covers most risks that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to achieve compliance with the PUWER 1998.
- PUWER 1998 only applies to work equipment used by workers at work. This includes all work equipment (fixed, transportable or portable) connected to a source of electrical energy. PUWER does not apply to fixed installations in a building. The electrical safety of these installations is dealt with only by the Electricity at Work Regulations
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states:
Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
- The risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and
- The risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.
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This was the first time we have used National PAT Testing and I have to say I am extremely pleased with the service that the team provided. The engineer checked all our appliances and offered very competitive pricing too.
Gillian GoodeGillians Deli, Chorleywood
