PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Testing
Derek Pitcher Ltd is a U.K. company specialising in portable appliance testing (P.A.T.) We have been established since the turn of the century but even in this short space of time we have established a strong customer base.
We can cater to your needs with computerised login systems, also incorporate complete asset tracking giving a complete history of each item. In many cases we carry out the Portable Appliance Testing for Facilities Departments in most large companies, as this needs to be carried out swiftly and efficiently. Being a young and progressive company we give our clients exactly what they want and each package is specifically tailored to each customer's needs. We can carry out testing out of business hours so there is no inconvenience to the day to day running of your business.
Portable Appliance Testing - Legislation
Current legislation demands that employers ensure portable appliances are safe. Here are a selection of some of the relevant regulations.
Health and Safety at Work act 1974
Electricity At Work Act 1989
To meet the requirements of "The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989" it is widely regarded to be necessary to implement a programmed of planned inspection and testing of portable appliances,
As may be nessesary to prevent danger all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent so far as is reasonably practicable such danger.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Provisions And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1992
Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficent working order and in good repair.
Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Every employer shall ensure that the result of an inspection made under this regulation is recorded and kept until the next inspection under this regulations is recorded.
Are you up to date with your Portable Appliance Testing ?
Portable Appliance Testing - In English
What is a portable appliance?
A portable appliance is simply an item of electrical equipment, which is connected to the power supply by means of a plug and socket.
Why do I need to have it tested?
There are a number of reasons why appliances should be tested on a regular basis, but the most important ones are:-
1. To comply with The Electricity at Work Regulations
2. To comply with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
3. To minimise the risk of fire and injury caused by electrical appliances
4. To satisfy your Insurance Company
5. To comply with all Health & Safety requirements. ISO 9000 & BS 5750
What testing involves :
There are two parts to portable appliance testing. A formal visual inspection and electrical testing.
The formal visual inspection is the most important component of a regular maintenance regime because the majority of potentially dangerous faults can be picked up by such inspections.
The following items are inspected:-
* The lead
- Is it in good condition?
- Is it free from cuts, fraying and damage?
- Is it too long or too short?
- Are there any hand-made or taped joints?
- Is the cable secure where it enters the plug?
* The appliance
- Is it working?
- Does it switch on and off properly?
- Is there any damage to the external casing?
* The plug
- Are the cable terminations secure and correct?
- Is the cord grip effective?
- Is the correct fuse fitted?
- Are there any signs of internal damage,
- overheating or ingress of liquid or foreign matter?
So what do you get for your money from Derek ?
- Any necessary re-termination of plug-top cables
- Any necessary replacement of standard plug-tops
- Any necessary replacement of fuses or cartridges
- All standard barcode labels (each asset is given a unique number)
- All standard pass (or fail) labels
- A Failure Report (where appropriate)
- A Certificate of Electrical Appliance Testing
- A record in respect of each item inspected/tested that includes - Company name, location description, building, floor, asset barcode number, asset description, manufacturer, test results and date of next test.
- Additional information e.g. serial number (where readily accessible), old asset code number, model, condition etc can be provided, if required at a supplementary cost of 5p per field.
- The supply of asset information & test results on CD-R or floppy disk in agreed format e.g. Excel, Access etc or a paper-based Test Log Book
Prices
The overall cost depends on the number of items tested and the information that is required to be collected.-
Please contact us for a quotation, stating the estimated number of appliances or the number of staff.
All Prices include:
Barcodes
Pass labels
Travelling
Re-termination of plug tops
Fuse or cartridge replacement
We have no hidden costs
All quoted prices are the same whether the work is conducted "in" or "out" of hours but assumes uninterrupted access to all of the equipment.
We feel that we are one of the most competitively priced companies in the UK, please let us prove it to you.
Portable Appliance Testing - Why it is necessary - Actual Cases
Heavy fine for employer who put lives at risk.
A company was fined for endangering staff by using electrical equipment in a dangerous condition. The Director of a company in Eaglescliffe, admitted breaking several Health and Safety laws.
Teesside magistrates fined the company £1000 on each violation.
The HM factories inspector Mr. Kay, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive said, the electric cables and socket could have been fatal. The 240 volt cable and socket linked the forklift charger and grinder, were badly damaged because they were not of heavy enough duty material to withstand the harsh environment of the factory. The sockets and cable had not been maintained in a good enough condition or protected adequately, with conductors exposed to the air, water and possible damage from vehicles or metal shards.
Electrical conductors could easily have been exposed to puddles. If anyone had stepped into the puddles they could have easily been electrocuted. Mr. Kay stated that the unsuitable lightweight equipment had been allowed to deteriorate.
The company director had been warned about the problem in a spot check carried out earlier in the year, however, it seemed nothing had been done to safeguard the workers from the danger on the second visit. The firm should have bought heavy duty armoured cable, with 110-volt power supply and installed trip switches.
The director expressed that his negligence had cost his company significantly.
Fast Food Boy Fried Alive as he mops the Floor
A young man was electrocuted as he mopped up in a burger bar, where staff fixed machines to save the firm cash. A 17 year old collapsed in a pool of water after he moved a plate-warmer that became live because of a badly made plug. He died just days after handing in his notice at Fatty Arbuckle's in Lincoln, complaining that his part time job was affecting his A-Level studies. At least four other £3-an-hour employees had received electric shocks from the same machine before the tragedy.
The plugs earth wire had been disconnected and was lying over the live cable. Tests later showed 11 out of the 56 appliances in the diner were faulty. Now ex-bosses of the fast food chain which has gone into liquidation and closed all outlets could face corporate manslaughter charges after the jury returned a verdict that the victim was un lawfully killed.
Last night his mother Gill said "I feel Fatty Arbuckle's was more concerned about the profit than the staff welfare. I hope a lesson is learned from this waste of a young life. A 16 year old waitress found the 17 year olds body. She said "At first I thought he'd slipped. Then I heard some clicks and realised it was electricity". Her sister said "employees often changed plugs and replaced light bulbs and fuses to save expenses". She said "the company wasn't exactly making very much and would be reluctan to call people out if it costs money"
Assistant Kitchen Manager Adam Clarke said he changed fuses on the plate-warmer and found there was no earth on the plug. He twice received shocks and complained.