From my previous life as an electrician and qualified Electrical Inspect Tester / PAT Tester, I can safely say there's always been confusion regards PAT testing, even in the electrical industry itself.
If you think about it, the legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
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 - Even if working from home!!
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states:
"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
- (a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and
- (b) 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."
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 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 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."
Scope of the legislation
It 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 and have sufficient records of such maintenance and tests.
However, there is no specific reference to say PAT testing must be done unlike the fixed wiring tests of a building that are mandatory.
What you will find is that its strongly advisable in a commercial environment and most insurance companies expect it as regardless of previous mentions in posts, the HSE in any investagation WILL ask for full auditable evidence of any maintenance records on any electrical appliance. I know I've been there having been involved in a RIDDOR investigation. Providing a PAT test certificate with historical data took ALOT of heat off.
I hate PAT testing requirements as much as others(and I can do them) but I fully understand the need to have them in a commercial setting as a cover your ass.
I do my own and can do all my gear in a morning saves me an expense I dont need as I can charge anything upwards of £50 per device some charge alot more.
All I'm saying is be very very careful on what records you keep on your equipment.
