What is included in PAT test?
PAT or Portable Appliance Testing is a significant part of a company’s health and safety policy. As an employer, it is your duty to ensure that your colleagues and employees are protected from injury by damaged or worn out electrical appliances.
Whilst there is no solid definition of what electrical equipment is covered by the term ‘portable appliance’, general consensus holds that it includes:
- Appliances that are hand held while being connected to the supply
- Appliances intended to be moved whilst connected to the supply
- Appliances that can be moved with relative ease whilst connected to the supply
Although it is common for PAT tested electrical equipment to be connected to the supply through a plug socket, this is not a strict condition of it being classed as portable or transportable.
The IEE Code of Practice suggests that it is an appliance or equipment weighing less than 18kg than can be moved in operation or is easily movable in general. This then means that anything with a plug is a Portable Appliance, and is subject to a PAT test, including toasters, drills, printers, vacuum cleaners, PCs and even large items like vending machines.
The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) however simply states that a portable appliance is 'any electrical item which can or is intended, to be moved whilst connected to an electrical supply.'
PAT and Health & Safety
25% of all electrical accidents in the workplace involve portable appliances. The legal responsibility falls on employers, employees and self-employed persons to ensure that measures are taken to prevent hazardous situations arising from the use of such electrical appliances.
The relevant legislations for electrical safety at work are 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.
Consequently, these encourage a regular programme of inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical equipment to ensure compliance with their requirements.
The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) states that the guides for portable electrical testing should be:
- Where appliances are used by employees
- Where members of the public may use appliances in public establishments such as hospitals, schools, hotels, shops etc
- Where appliances are supplied or hired
- Where appliances are repaired or serviced
Without passing the initial inspection prior to the full PAT test, no appliance can be passed as safe.
The initial visual inspection includes examination of the plug top, lead and casing of the appliance. The plug top itself is inspected to ensure it has the correct sized fuse, proper cord grip, balanced polarity, and tight terminations. It must not have any cracking or heat damage, but will have a plug with insulating pins conforming to current BS standards.
The appliance’s casing is examined for visible damage or cracking. The radius of any holes or vents on the casing must not exceed 6mm, and no live parts must be apparent within 80mm of the aperture.
The Health & Safety Executive does not state any set frequency for the testing and inspection of portable appliances. How often an appliance requires testing relies on several factors as well as general common sense:
- The environment is which the appliance is used. Is it more exposed to physical wear and tear?
- If damage is reported as it occurs, the appliance will be in overall better condition as it is prevented from becoming hazardous. Has it been in poor but working condition, and not checked for some time?
- The equipment’s construction itself. Are parts vital to that type of appliance damaged?
- The equipment type. Hand held appliances are more at risk of damage. Is it a hand held appliance or is it fixed?