Portable Appliance Testing - PAT test obligations for employers

About PAT testing and electrical safety at work

The workplace is now safe than ever thanks to tightly controlled rules and laws that help to protect employees and embers of the public.

This is particularly apparent when dealing with electrical appliances, known in the industry as portable appliances.

The following legislation provides some of the LEGAL controls in the UK and discusses other elements of electricity safety:

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974,
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Fixed wire testing information

More about PAT testing:

What is a portable appliance?

A portable appliance is any electrical item that is connected to a fixed installation by way of a flexible lead or cord. The item usually will be portable which of course means that it can be moved around from one place to another.

There are various "classes" of appliance. Class1 applies to any (usually metallic) item that needs to be earthed. Class 2 concerns items that do not need to be earthed and Class 3 relates to transponders such as re-charges etc.

Why do Portable Appliances need to be tested?

All employers and businesses have an obligation to take reasonable precautions so far as electrical safety is concerned. Such precautions are designed to avoid injury or death and one of the primary ways to meet this obligation is to have a regular testing and maintenance regime.

For this reason portable appliance testing has become hugely popular and this has reduced the numbers of those electrocuted at work during the last few years.

If you have been injured at work in an electrical accident and require immediate accident claim assistance:

To make a written enquiry - just complete the brief form below. Our team will respond to all written enquiries within 1 hour 8am-8pm.

For immediate accident claim assistance please telephone our FREEPHONE electrocution ACCIDENT AT WORK CLAIM helpline on 0800 0322210

We also deal with the following types of claim: