PAT tested equipment

[avinalarf]

Morning all

Can anyone tell me the legal aspect of a company putting equipment into someone's home that displays a PAT tested sticker which is out of date?

Thanks.

 

[Apache]

Can you give us a little more context, Nat?

 

[avinalarf]

Sorry patch, I was rushing to get the question in before dropping kids to school and going to work!

Ok - I've had a leak in my house which was quite severe and my insurers sent a company in to assess the damage. They subsequently provided me with an industrial sized hairdryer and de-humidifier to try and dry the place out a bit.

Looking at the appliances, I noticed that the pass stickers for the PAT tests on them were from 2008.

I called the company and they said that they had been tested and that the electrician must've forgot to put stickers on them. I stated that this was the incorrect way to do things and I would look into this further. I know I'm probably getting a bee in my bonnet over nothing, but that's not the point X( . If they're putting equipment into the houses of the general public, then their tests MUST be up to date musn't they???

 

[Apache]

Nat, I didn't think PATting was a legal obligation, only that anything supplied had to be fit for purpose.

Do you have any concerns about the equipment or just the stickers?

 

[Apache]

I have looked. PAT testing is not a legal requirement

The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states:

"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:

(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and

(B) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking."

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states:

"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair."

The PUWER 1998 covers most risks that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to achieve compliance with the PUWER 1998.

PUWER 1998 only applies to work equipment used by workers at work. This includes all work equipment (fixed, transportable or portable) connected to a source of electrical energy. PUWER does not apply to fixed installations in a building. The electrical safety of these installations is dealt with only by the Electricity at Work Regulations.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states:

"All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."

"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."

"'System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment"

"'Electrical Equipment' includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy."

 

[avinalarf]

What would we do without you Patch :x .

I'll get off my high horse now... :coat

TBH it was the fact that it didn't have an up-to-date sticker on it which was grating my nerves a bit and the bloke I spoke to at the company annoyed me too!

Thank you.

Nat

 

[Apache]

What would we do without you Patch :x .I'll get off my high horse now... :coat

TBH it was the fact that it didn't have an up-to-date sticker on it which was grating my nerves a bit and the bloke I spoke to at the company annoyed me too!

Thank you.

Nat

Nat, you could argue that the only way that the following can be complied with

"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair."

and

"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."

Would be to PAT test it!

But legally they dont have to!

 

[green-hornet]

One of the main reasons why these companies PAT test their equipment is because no insurance company would insure them if they did not.

If any fault was to occur whilst on your premises the fact that the machines were out of test would result in no insurance payout and the company facing very hefty bills.

Some companies I know do a test before any item is taken from the stores, lets face it, it does not take long and compared to a hefty repair bill is reletavely cheap.

 

[Theorysparky]

Looking at the appliances, I noticed that the pass stickers for the PAT tests on them were from 2008.

they could have been tested October 2008 in which case they are ok until Oct 2009

if it has come from a hire company there should be an inspection label stating it was checked before 'hire out'

would worry about it,,,,,

when was the last time you pat tested your washing machine ???

one of the major causes of fire in the home

dont worry about it...........