Contrary to common perception, there is in fact no strict legal requirement for PAT testing in the UK. That said, the government has put regulations in place regarding the maintenance of electrical appliances, and the most effective way to comply with these regulations is to undertake PAT testing.
Both the UK Health and Safety Executive and insurance companies expect businesses to perform regular PAT testing to ensure they comply with regulations such as the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations of 1989 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999.
Not complying with these regulations can result in fines up to £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment. Fines as high as £20,000 have been heard of, and some offences heard in the Crown Court have carried sentences of over two years’ imprisonment on top of financial penalties.
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, observes, even though PAT testing itself is not legally required, it does helps to protect businesses through compliance. “The law does require that employers, including the self-employed, ensure that all electrical equipment that they provide in their business is safe and properly maintained,” he comments. “This means that PAT testing is a critical part of your company’s health and safety and should be considered part of a solution to your safety concerns. Faults in electrical equipment pose a potential hazard, particularly if they are not repaired readily, so the consequences of electrical faults should be considered carefully. At MS Electrical we offer PAT testing in Cambridge, Ely and Newmarket, and we’d encourage any business that hasn’t had their appliances tested recently to call us and arrange a PAT testing appointment.”
For complete peace of mind, call MS Electrical on 01223 850301 / 01353 665106 to arrange a quotation for your PAT testing.
