As a business owner or landlord, keeping your employees and tenants safe should be of utmost importance. In fact, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury must be maintained to protect the well-being of your workforce.
This means that just being conscious about the safety of your employees, tenants, and the public isn’t enough. You also have a legal responsibility to ensure their safety. While PAT testing itself isn’t a legal requirement, it is one of the most effective ways to ensure you adhere to this UK legislation.
Not only will this PAT test ensure you are complying with relevant laws regarding your employee’s safety. But regular PAT testing can also keep your insurance provider happy to continue to cover your business, knowing that you are doing everything you can to minimise risk.
Due to how many businesses utilise electronic equipment in order to run the business. PAT testing is incredibly important to make sure that there is little chance of faulty electronics creating risks such as electrical fires.
Defective electronic appliances such as loose wires or faulty equipment can overheat and cause sparks resulting in a fire. A study on fire statistics from 2013/14 reported that – based on industrial and office buildings, the number one cause of fires was faulty appliances and leads (2,700 fires). This makes PAT testing vital for deterring the chance of injury or damage to property.
The routine checks also lead to less likely damage to the equipment itself, which can prevent lengthy repair times and costs. PAT testing can save you money in the long term as it can identify potential issues with electronics that could result in it breaking further down the line. This allows you to preemptively replace them before it becomes a real issue that might result in a loss of business.
What electronics does a PAT test cover?
PAT, or Portable Appliance Testing, inspects all the portable electronics in a business to ensure they are safe for use. Portable appliances cover anything that connects using a wire, socket, or plug that you can easily move.
Some examples of workplace electronics include:
- Kettle
- Microwave
- Photocopier
- Computers
- Printers
- Monitors
Some other devices, such as white goods, including a dishwasher, and refrigerator, may not be considered portable but still require PAT testing.
What businesses need PAT testing?
There is a multitude of hazards in a workplace to be aware of. If you work in a busy office with desktop computers or laptops, chargers, telephones, printers and much more, there is a lot that could go wrong.
Offices aren’t the only occupations requiring PAT testing; hairdressers, hotels, doctors and any workplace that has portable electric appliances.
No matter where you work, PAT testing is important to keep your staff safe and ensure you’re compliant with relevant laws.
How does a PAT test work?
A fully qualified PAT testing engineer will come out to visit your premises to comprehensively test your portable appliances with approved test equipment.
After which, the tester will issue you a certificate that demonstrates your compliance with the legislation. While PAT tests have no official expiry date, you should have a new PAT inspection every one to two years, depending on the business location.
We’d recommend that a PAT test be carried out annually to allow you, your employees or tenants to operate and live with the peace of mind that the equipment they are using on a daily basis is safe.
At PTS, our PAT testing should take no longer than an hour and with out of hours options available, we’ll cause as little disruption to your workday as possible. If you’re interested in getting a PAT test, get in touch, and our expert engineers will come out to you at an agreed time to perform the relevant checks.