PAT Advice


Common Sense Approach Should Be Way Forward


A new campaign seeks to promote a pragmatic approach to PAT in an effort to clarify and improve workplace understanding of electrical safety testing.


Everyone would acknowledge that businesses and organisations should not be overwhelmed by health and safety regulations, but at the same time it is vital that the important role played by basic safety standards is not overlooked.


The Common Sense approach now being


promoted by Seaward recognises this fact and seeks to provide a balanced approach to portable appliance testing. As part of the campaign, a new free booklet is now available for PAT service users that explains how workplace electrical inspection and testing regimes can be implemented sensibly. The main messages in the booklet are also expanded in a special Common Sense seminar presentation which can also be made


8 www.current-knowledge.com


available to interested groups. The guide recognises the vital role that electrical inspection and testing plays in identifying many situations where defective equipment could have caused electrocution or fire and explains how in the vast number of cases the cost of taking an inspection and testing approach can be lower than that associated with other forms of assessing risk. In reality a duty holder can demonstrate compliance with the various regulations by a variety of means of which inspection and testing is one. However, guidance from the Health and Safety Executive and The Institution of Engineering and Technology are to all intents and purposes recommendations and it is the duty holder who makes the decision as to how to demonstrate compliance in relation to the risk posed in their own particular environment. In this way the new guide will help those with responsibility for health and safety in


companies and organisations to understand the importance of taking realistic and adequate electrical safety precautions which are in proportion to the particular risk provided in their own situation.


If such common sense principles can be adopted, then, rather than run the risk of exposing workers and premises to an increased risk of unsafe appliances, the way forward can be one of common sense with a realistic, pragmatic and cost effective approach to electrical testing in the workplace.


New free booklet: A Common Sense Approach to Electrical Safety in The Workplace To request your copy email info@seaward.co.uk quoting ‘Current Knowledge – Common Sense Approach guide’


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