COVER STORY
PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING (PAT/EET) PAT or EET ?
The latest IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment recommends the term Electrical Equipment Testing (EET) rather than PAT. The change was due to the word ‘portable,’ which could be assumed to refer that only small, movable appliances would require testing, whereas the scope is much wider.
Overview
According to the Health and Safety Executive, a significant number of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances. It is clear that a large number of incidents and injuries could be prevented with proper electrical checks, inspections and safety tests.
In accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations, any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition. Although the regulations are clear in their intent, they do not specify what needs to be done, by whom, or how frequently. Nevertheless, the objective is to drive compliance and reduce the number of accidents in the workplace – specifically electricity-related accidents and cases where employees are put at risk due to the failure to properly comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations.
Process
https://martindale-electric.co.uk/before-you-test-look-why-formal-visual-inspections-matter-in-pat-testing/
Although many electrical safety defects can be identified by a formal visual inspection, some types can only be found by carrying out testing. It is important to note, however, that even where testing is a necessary element of the diagnostic process, a visual examination may prove critical in detecting safety defects that cannot be identified solely by testing.
A simple training programme and checklist can help to guide an initial user check, but a more formal visual inspection and testing regime carried out by a competent person may be required, depending on the type of equipment and its operating environment.
https://martindale-electric.co.uk/pat-checklist/
When it comes to determining how often an item of electrical equipment should be tested, there are no hard and fast rules. For example, a power tool used on a construction site should be examined more frequently than a lamp in a hotel bedroom. Guidelines suggest regular testing, which is generally interpreted as a requirement for annual testing. Circumstances and conditions of use will often vary; however, the frequency of inspection and testing will depend upon the type of equipment being used and the operating environment.
The subject of Portable Appliance Testing can be really tricky for employers to navigate. Although the requirements surrounding PAT/EET are not stipulated; in order to guarantee wider legal compliance, it is important for employers to prove that their workforce operates within a safe environment, so regular testing of portable appliances is absolutely vital.
TEST EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENT
Martindale have invested in developing and manufacturing products and support services to help ensure that it is as straightforward as possible to stay safe and compliant. When it comes to testing appliances, the Martindale HPAT Series of portable appliance testers, including the new HPAT425 with automated testing, enable both contractors and competent in-house personnel to quickly and safely verify the electrical safety of a wide range of appliances.
https://martindale-electric.co.uk/pat-testing/ https://martindale-electric.co.uk
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