Portable Appliance Testing - Frequency Assessing

There is no specific schedule set out. There are however guidelines to help:

The frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used.

For example a high-risk item such as an electric drill should be tested more frequently than a low risk item such as a PC. Furthermore a drill that is used everyday in a high density manufacturing plant should be tested more frequently than a drill used only occasionally in an office environment.

Portable Appliance Testing - Electrical Tests

In-Service testing will involve the following:

•     Visual inspection
•     Earth continuity tests (for Class 1 equipment)
•     Flash test (where necessary)
•     Insulation testing
•     Fuse Test
•     Load Test
•     Earth Leakage Measurement
•     Functional checks
  
  

Portable Appliance Testing - Records

Records have to be kept to show that the testing is done regularly and is kept up to date.

Arks-n-Sparks can keep your records and provide hard copies when necessary using our

Fluke PowerPAT portable appliance testing software application.

Portable Appliance Testing - Our Equipment

We use the latest generation Fluke 6500 micro-processor controlled PAT Testing equipment and software applications to enable us to perform quick and accurate testing, giving you professional reports and documentation at a sensible price.

 
To comply with legislation, and ensure accuracy, your equipment will have a bar coded label attached and logged as to the condition at time of test and whereabouts it is situated along with the next testing date.

All our test equipment is calibrated at recommended intervals with traceable certification.

Portable Appliance Testing - Introduction

The Health & Safety Executive states that 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances.

The Electricity at Work Regulations place a legal responsibility on employers, employees and self-employed persons to comply with the provisions of the regulations.

To take reasonably practical steps to ensure that no danger results from the use of such equipment.

This in effect requires the implementation of a systematic and regular program of maintenance, inspection and testing.

The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) places a clear responsibility on both occupiers of premises and employers to ensure that the workplace is maintained in a safe condition to protect employees, visitors, trainees, guests and cleaners from danger.

Portable Appliance Testing - Who is responsible?

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires, every employer to ensure that works equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is provided, only used in the place and under the provisions for which it is provided.

It also requires every employer to ensure work equipment be efficiently maintained and kept fit and suitable for its intended purpose.

It must not be allowed to deteriorate in function or performance to such a level that it puts people at risk.

This means that regular, routine and planned maintenance regimes must be considered if hazardous problems can arise.

Regulation three of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 recognizes a responsibility that employer and many employees have for electrical systems.

"It shall be the duty of every employer and self employed person to comply with the provisions of the Regulations in as far as they relate to matters which are within his control.

It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:

(a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable and duty placed on that employer by the provision of the Regulations to be complied with: and
(b) to comply with the provision of these regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his powers.

Portable Appliance Testing - Types of Appliance

For the legislation a portable electrical appliance is taken to be an item of equipment which is not part of a fixed installation but is, or is

intended to be, connected to a fixed installation, or a generator,

by a flexible cable and a plug and socket.

This means that any item with a plug is a Portable Appliance.

This would include electric drills, kettles, PCs, printers, monitors, extension leads and even some large items such as vending machines are classed as portable.