Do YOU Need PAT Testing?

Although PAT testing is not a legal requirement. However, it is a legal requirement for all businesses and self employed persons take reasonable steps to ensure that all electrical equipment on-site is safe and properly maintained so as to prevent danger (injury, shocks, fire etc). PAT Testing with qualified inspectors helps ensure compliance with Health & Safety Laws and develop a routine for safety maintenance.

If you own, operate or have control over work equipment or responsibilities in a home business or traditional business environment, or you are a businesses or organisation whose employees use work equipment, whether owned by them or not – you should think about PAT Testing all electrical appliances for safety.

From a handheld hairdryer used in an Airbnb/Holiday Let to power drills used on site for building installations – the law states that there is a duty to maintain the safety of electrical appliances.

Examples of businesses that should think about PAT Testing:

• Offices (eg kettles, microwaves in staff kitchen, printers, copiers. laptops, lighting etc)
• Rentals (anything supplied by the landlord such as fridges, washing machines etc)
• Hotels, B&B’s Airbnb Hosts, Holiday Lets (eg lamps, hair dryers, heaters, kitchen equipment, irons etc)
• Restaurants, Cafes, Pubs, Bars (eg coffee machines, toasters, fryers, kettles, microwaves)
• Garages Power tools, testers, welding equipment, soldering irons, kettle etc
• Venues, Theatres, Cinemas (eg PA, lighting, coffee machines, tills, ticket machines, popcorn stands, refrigerators)
• Shops / Retail (eg staff kettles, tils, lamps, luminaires)
• Cleaning Companies (eg hoovers, carpet cleaners brought to houses)
• Building Sites / Construction / Power Tools (eg drills, electric chainsaws, power tools)
• Schools, Colleges, Universities (eg office items, classroom items, projectors, fridges, student laptops)
• Hairdressers (eg hairdryers, tongs, heaters)
• Factories (eg all portable electrical appliances)
• Hospitals, Doctors Surgeries, Private Healthcare (eg scanners, portable medical equipment (needs specialist testing)
• Catering establishments, fast food takeaways (eg coffee machines, toasters, fryers, kettles, microwaves)
• Accountants, Solicitors (eg office equipment, staff kitchen equipment)

Individuals or self employed

If you are self employed or bring equipment for use ro a commercial OR a residential setting – it is important to test appliances regularly for safety:

• Anyone working with work equipment at home or bringing equipment to other peoples homes
• Teachers / Home Tutors (keyboards, speakers)
• Cleaners (hoovers etc)
• Musicians / Band Members in some venues (amps, PA, lights)
• Employees bringing equipment to work (phone chargers, laptops)
• Students going to University with portable appliances
• Anyone selling second hand portable appliances on eBay, Amazon, Etsy etc