Portable Appliance Testing for workplaces in the North East

PAT testing (aka Portable Appliance Testing, or electrical equipment testing) is a safety procedure carried out on a periodic basis, on electrical equipment used in workplaces, to make sure it is safe to continue using.

The purpose of doing PAT regularly, is to make sure that users of equipment, customers, the general public, employees, tenants, students, pupils, children, etc are not going to be at risk of injury from them.

In the UK, under Health and Safety at Work Regulations, the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) makes your obligations quite clear – “All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practical, such danger“. This means that you need to make sure that your electrical systems (wiring installation and appliances that plug into it) are always safe to use. So, businesses and other owners/managers of work places like schools, hotels, doctors surgeries, hair salons, etc. need to observe regular testing protocols to minimise the risk.

It is considered best practice to Pat test portable electrical equipment (in most workplaces) once a year; and in some higher risk locations, more often than this.

Although there is no legal requirement to do annual PAT testing, it is considered best practice, and tends to be the most acceptable process, especially if you don’t have risk assessments in place.

Also, keep in mind, if you allow other businesses to operate on your premises (like mobile disco’s in hotels), their equipment needs to be PAT tested too – and to protect your own policies you will need to check this.

A stringent PAT test will involve a thorough inspection of the appliance by a trained engineer to include the plug, fuse, flexible cable and appliance itself.

If there is damage to the appliance, or the engineer observes anything that gives them concern they need to take action to remove the danger, which could be to repair the appliance or remove it from use.

You can expect the person doing your PATs to also check your appliances are being used correctly, such as making sure extension leads aren’t being overloaded, and wires aren’t messy and causing undue stresses.

You will be told if plugs have been replaced, or if an appliance has failed the inspection; and what it failed on, and what you need to do with the appliance, which could include getting it repaired by another profession.

Electrical tests will be carried out on some appliances (they don’t all need them), but these could include checks for earth (safety) continuity, insulation resistance and polarity in cables.

Every appliance that is checked and passes, will be labelled with a Passed PAT testing label that shows the date of the test and given ID number.

When we have finished inspecting all your portable appliances, we provide you with a Certificate. This certificate is issued to provide you with evidence that you are doing what needs to be done to comply with the regulations.

PAT testing certificates come in all different designs, each providing different information but they all need to confirm that your company is complying with national regulations and the Electricity at Work Regulations Act.

The certificate confirms compliance and that all electrical appliances are safe to continue using; confirmation of what tests have been carried out is essential and that the appliance is safe. When using DRA PAT Testing Limited you will receive a detailed certificate that confirms what appliances have passed, and which have failed. It shows what tests have been carried out and that the results obtained meet the required safety parameters.

Every PAT Testing Certificate, no matter who issues it must include:

• The company name and address where the testing was completed
• The name and company address of the person/company carrying out the inspection
• The date of the certificate (showing when the tests were carried out)
• A signature by the authorised tester.

In addition to the certificate you should also expect to receive a detailed inspection report, which should include:

• the list of all appliances tested and the results obtained; each with a unique ID number.
• Information on all appliances that failed

In addition to that we provide you with:

• Guidance on how to maintain safe equipment
• Recommendations from the engineer on how to improve safety in your workplace
• Information relating to repairs carried out

This added information will provide you with good advice on what to do with any appliances that have not passed so that you can take appropriate action to ensure the safety of everyone within your workplace.

If you do not carry out proper and regular PAT Testing on your appliances there is a high chance someone will get hurt at some point, or (arguably worse) there could be a fire.

• There is a risk to the safety of your staff and other users.
• There is a financial risk as insurance premiums can be increased if faults are found or anyone is harmed.
• There is also the financial risk to the property owner being held accountable by law if any injury or fatality should occur as a result of faulty appliances

More information and examples are available on our PAT Testing Certificates Report page.

We’re happy you are considering us to maintain your electrical equipment; you want to know what help we can offer.

When it is your responsibility for maintaining safe electrical equipment in your workplace (or equipment you own that you’re going to use elsewhere) you of course want to be sure that any contractor you choose to help you maintain that equipment is going to do a good job.

Just to tell you about us briefly; 

• We started trading in 2009, and in that time have checked over 650,000 appliances for more than 1000 clients across the UK (Mainly in the North East)
• We have more reviews on Google than any other PAT Tester – rated 5-star; over 160 at time of writing. We are contractors for Durham Police, the National Trust, Nexus (Tyne and Wear Metro), Subway, etc.
• We don’t rush our work, taking care to do thorough visual inspections and all repairs necessary – visual inspections are the most important part of PAT, and skipped by cheaper companies. Finding one fault and fixing it is more important than saying 100 items are safe – removing faults and preventing danger is why you get PAT done.
• We work with our clients to help them maintain compliance, long term – we don’t insist on annual re-tests, and manage equipment so it is checked appropriately for the risks involved. We also guide clients on other matters of electrical safety such as overloading, mains wiring, server systems and so on.
• Richard Ayre, the business owner, is also the Operations Director for the national standards raiser, the Portable Appliance Testing Trade Association (which has over 150 industry members), was involved in the writing and production of the latest Code of Practice for Inspection and Testing, and has regular meetings with various government departments with regards to electrical safety.

Call 📞  0191 6661009

for more information or to arrange your PAT testing

✔️ Remedial repairs to the plug and flexible cable

✔️ Supply and fit of replacement 13a plugs and plug fuses

✔️ PAT Testing Certificate Report issued as a PDF document within 5 days

✔️ Reminders for retests so you’re always compliant

✔️ Experienced, competent PAT testing specialists

✔️ Contractors accredited for Health and Safety

To book your PAT testing or to arrange a free survey get in touch with us by 📞  0191 666 1009 or 📲  07897 240 878, or email us 📧 info@draelectricals.co.uk