All portable and fixed electrical equipment should be inspected and tested at regular intervals.
This includes equipment such as electric kettles, which are portable, and wall-mounted hand dryers, which are fixed equipment. There are several defined equipment categories but their inspection and testing is often collectively referred to as Portable Appliance Testing or PAT.
WHY YOU NEED YOUR APPLIANCES TESTED One of the first things Fire Officers and Health & Safety Inspectors usually ask to see on any inspection visit is PAT records. There are a number of additional reasons why appliances should be tested on a regular basis with the most important ones being: • To comply with The Electricity at Work Regulations • To comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations • To minimise the risk of fire and injury caused by electrical appliances (Each year about 1000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive, about 30 of these are fatal) • To satisfy your Insurance Company • To comply with all Health & Safety requirements and ISO standards • To comply with Quality Assurances • As part of your Fire Risk Assessment compliance