P.A.T Testing:
Know the consequences of not getting tested?

Pat Testing Legal Standards:

Portable appliance testing, or PAT testing, is a major contributor to ensuring safety at all times, & will enable your business to comply with the legal standards. Failure to implement a programme of regular appliance testing can lead to serious consequences, including prosecution, as well as affecting insurance policies.

Insurance Companies:

Most insurance companies will assume that the owners of a business are compliant with all relevant regulations.

These insurers are fully entitled to reduce, delay or even refuse to pay on a claim for damage caused by a portable appliance that has not been PAT tested.

What happens if you don't Pat Test?

Recently, an employee sustained a 240 volt electric shock that broke both shoulders whilst attempting to use a kettle, over time the lead had become damaged and the appliance became live. Suitable precautions had not been taken to prevent electrical injury to employees through annual PAT testing & No certificate could be produced...

Employees were exposed to live wires at 240 Volts ac, there was no PAT test of any mains lead prior to the accident which would had of identified the problem.

The employers were prosecuted under The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (No 14), The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (No 3) paragraph 1 & received a fine of £10,000.

Pat Testing Legal Requirements Overview

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

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 & includes such source & 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." 

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998:

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 & in good repair."

Scope of the legislation:

The combination of the above regulations & acts apply to all electrical equipment used in & associated with places of work.

This scope extends from electrical equipment to distribution systems.

Offences committed under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 may be liable for a fine of £20,000 for each offence in a Magistrates Court or unlimited fine/prison sentence at Crown Court.

 Health& Safety Executive Inspectors can visit premises and may initiate legal action where equipment does not comply with regulations.