Contact ESI Electrical Safety Inspections

PAT Testing – Why use ESI

Could I, or one of my employees, carry out Portable Appliance Testing in-house?

Yes, however, you would need to ensure that any person who carries this testing out is competent to do so.

The Electricity at Work regulations states that: No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger, or where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.

The IET Code of Practice states, those carrying out the inspection and testing must be competent to undertake the inspection and, where appropriate, testing of electrical equipment and appliances having due regard of their own safety and that of others.

What should be considered is that the ‘danger’ to be prevented, includes not just the dangers which may arise during the testing procedure to the tester and others, but also the dangers which may arise at a later date as a result of using equipment which has not been effectively tested.

The tester must have an understanding of the modes of electrical, mechanical or thermal damage to electrical equipment and appliances and their flexes which may be encountered in any environment Training must include the identification of equipment and appliance types to determine the test procedures and frequency of inspection and testing.

Persons must be familiar with the test instruments used and in particular their limitations and restrictions so as to achieve repeatable results without damaging the equipment of appliance.

The importance must be stressed of recording inspection and test results, labelling and reporting to managers for action on defects, trends or changes in their assessment of risk.”

Wouldn’t it be cheaper if I have one of my employees carry out Portable Appliance Testing?

Purchasing a Portable Appliance Testing is a relatively low-cost investment for a medium to large business, costs involved in training staff to the levels of competence required above may also be achievable, however, bear a few factors in mind.

We find that many companies who have tried to carry out testing in-house also take more time to do the testing as the staff generally only do this as part of their job, and do not have the experience to minimise the disruption factor in shutting down equipment.

There may also be a tendency to “pass” appliances that may present a potential hazard, as it would mean taking the appliance out of commission. We invest large amounts each year on ensuring our engineers have the latest technology at their fingertips, to ensure minimal disruption to your business.

Our engineers carry the latest software for detailed reporting of your premises; your report is normally prepared and available for download within 7 working days.

How do I know ESI: Engineers are competent to carry this work out?

All of our inspection and testing engineers are fully qualified electricians; they regularly undertake training to keep them conversant with the latest electrical regulations.

PAT Testing is where we started our business, and it’s our firm belief that with our engineers’ experience and latest testing techniques, we can carry out your inspections with minimal interruptions, and market-leading reports.