Pat Testing Legal Requirements

Contrary to what others will tell you, there is NO specific legal requirement to have your portable appliances tested. However, there IS a legal requirement for all employers and self employed people to make sure that their equipment is SAFE. The best way to do this is to inspect and test it on a regular basis, and this is why there is an expectation that testing will be carried out.

But remember, the law makes it quite clear that the employer or self employed person is responsible for health and safety. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, all empoyers are required to ensure that anything provided for work purposes is safe. It is difficult to imagine how an employer would be able to ascertain whether something was safe or not, without testing it. The Electricity at Work Regulations specifically require electrical systems to be 'maintained' and this is normally cited as the legal requirement to carry out pat testing.

It is certainly NOT true to say that you will be sent to prison if you don't have your equipment tested every year. (Some companies have used this kind of talk to get work.)

But if you are an employer and you blatently ignore health and safety risks and then have an accident, you would certainly be in trouble! This is why most companies have their equipment tested on a regular basis.

But remember, the law makes it quite clear that the employer or self employed person is responsible for health and safety.

For more information, visit our books section - you can pick up a copy of the IEE Code of Practice (sold directly by Amazon) at a reduced price!

PAT Testing Books

If you are unsure about the legal requirements - why not consider attending a PAT Testing Training Course?