Portable appliance testing is vital to protect your business, its employees and the general public.
PAT Testing Legal Requirements & Electrical safety obligations are not just limited to businesses, but extends domestically– for example landlords are responsible for ensuring the regular testing of all appliances they provide for their tenants. Musical equipment is used in different premises for bands, DJ’s, singers, musicians and solo artists and should be tested on a regular basis.
The Electricity at Work Regulations requires that employers maintain their “electrical systems” at work to prevent any danger to anyone and is covered under 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.
As a result one of the first things a Fire Officer and Health & Safety Inspectors can ask to see on an inspection visit is your PAT records.
There are a number of reasons why appliances should be tested on a regular basis:
- To comply with the electricity at work regulations
- To comply with the provision and use of work equipment regulations
- To minimise the risk of fire and injury caused by electrical appliances (Each year about 1000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive about 30 of these are fatal)
- To satisfy your insurance company
- To comply with all health & safety requirements and ISO 9000 standards
- To comply with quality assurances
- As part of your fire risk assessment compliance
- Failure to comply with Electrical Regulations can lead to a maximum penalty of a £5,000 fine and/or up to six months imprisonment. For breaches under the general duties of the Health Safety at Work Act 1974, penalties of up to £20,000 were introduced in 1992 and offences heard on indictment in the Crown Court attract unlimited financial penalties and up to two years imprisonment
…Did you know your insurance premiums might be lower if you have an annual PAT testing program in place? Also PAT testing is classified as maintenance and repair so that makes it fully tax deductible.
