Question: Do I have to have everything tested every year?
Answer: No law says you have to test annually; read on….(by Jill Taylor)
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What does the law say?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 say that “you must maintain electrical equipment if it can cause danger” however it does not say how you must do this or how often. YOU have to decide the level of maintenance needed according to the risk of an item becoming faulty, & how the equipment is constructed.
You should think about: whether or not the equipment is double insulated (Class l or Class ll); will it be used correctly, is it suitable for the job or may it be used in an extreme or harsh environment.
This includes all electrical equipment employees use at work, whether it is their own or supplied by you
Portable and movable equipment
A portable or movable electric appliance is any item that can be moved, either connected or disconnected from an electrical supply. Portable or movable items usually have a lead (cable) and a plug.
Portable and movable equipment includes the following:
- electrical equipment that can be easily moved around, such as kettles, vacuum cleaners, floor polishers, portable heaters, fans, desk lamps, TVs, radios, PC projectors, small appliances such as irons, hair dryers and kitchen equipment including food mixers, toasters etc.
- larger items that could be moved (but only rarely), e.g. water chillers, fridges, microwaves, photocopiers, vending machines, washing machines, electric cookers, desktop computers etc. are considered to be movable items;
- hand-held items, such as hairdryers, that do not have a plug but have been wired in (or fixed) are still considered to be portable appliances, but large electrical items, such as water boilers that are wired in, are not portable appliances as they are not designed to be moved and would come under the scope of fixed installation maintenance;
- mobile phone and other battery-charging equipment that is plugged into the mains (but the phones themselves and any other battery-operated equipment would not be included);
- extension leads, multi-way adaptors and connection leads.
Earthed equipment and double insulated equipment
When deciding whether to test electrical equipment, you need to consider the type of construction of the equipment in use. There are two basic types of electrical equipment construction – Class I (earthed) and Class II (double insulated).
Earthed equipment
For safety reasons, Class I equipment has an earth connection. If there is a fault within the equipment there is a possibility that the outside of the equipment could cause an electric shock if the earth connection is not there. As a result, it is recommended that Class I equipment has a portable appliance test to ensure the earth connection is sound.
Double insulated equipment
Class II equipment is sometimes referred to as ‘double insulated’ equipment. This means that there is extra insulation within the construction of the equipment to prevent accidental contact with live parts, even if there is a fault.
Class II equipment does not need an earth connection to maintain safety. It will not need a portable appliance test, although you should ensure that user checks and visual inspections are carried out as the integrity of the equipment casing is a key safety feature.
How do I ensure the safety of electrical equipment?
- Encourage employees to look at the supply cable to the electrical equipment before they use it (user check).
- Encourage employees to look at electrical equipment before they use it (user check).
- Make sure that all portable equipment is visually inspected at initial intervals which could be between six months and four years, depending on the type of equipment. Arrange for equipment that is not double insulated to have a portable appliance test (including leads) at initial intervals which could be between one and five years, depending on the type of equipment.
- Ensure that damaged or faulty equipment is recognised, removed from use without delay and either: – repaired by someone competent; or disposed of to prevent its further use.
- Review your maintenance system to determine whether you could decrease or increase your inspection and/or testing intervals. You may find it useful to keep records of all inspections and tests, and to label equipment with the result and date of the test, but there is no legal requirement to do either of these things.
User checks, visual inspection and portable appliance tests
User checks
These should be carried out before most electrical equipment is used, with the equipment disconnected. Employees should look for:
- damage to the lead including fraying, cuts or heavy scuffing, eg from floor box covers;
- damage to the plug, e.g. to the cover or bent pins;
- tape applied to the lead to join leads together;
- coloured wires visible where the lead joins the plug (the cable is not being gripped where it enters the plug);
- damage to the outer cover of the equipment itself, including loose parts or screws;
- signs of overheating, such as burn marks or staining on the plug, lead or piece of equipment;
- equipment that has been used or stored in unsuitable conditions, such as wet or dusty environments or where water spills are possible and cables trapped under furniture.
Visual inspections
To carry out a visual inspection you don’t need to be an electrician, but you do need to know what to look for and you must also have sufficient knowledge to avoid danger to yourself and others. For further information see HSE downloadable leaflet “Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments” INDG236 (rev2)
Portable appliance test (PAT)
A portable appliance test does not need to be carried out by an electrician, but greater knowledge and experience is needed than for inspection alone, and the person performing the test must have the right equipment for the task. They should know how to use the test equipment and how to interpret the results.
It is important to continue to carry out user checks on electrical equipment that has been tested. This is because portable appliance testing can only give an indication of the safety of an appliance at the time of the test and does not imply that the item will be safe for a further period of time.
The person carrying out the test should not assess when the next test will be due as this decision should be made by you on a risk assessment basis.
Please bear in mind that business insurance cover may, in certain circumstances, stipulate the time frame for testing of electrical equipment.
I hope this answers some of your questions – the HSE website has a wealth of information on electrical safety & equipment testing, we will also be happy to advise and quote for carrying out your PAT at a time convenient to yourselves. Give us a call to discuss our flexible pricing structure.
