- What Regulations apply?
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Various pieces of legislation applies to work equipment including, but
not limited to:
- What is Portable Appliance Testing?
-
It is the periodic testing of electrical work equipment in order to evidence
that it is suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided.
- What is a Portable Appliance?
-
The term is wide reaching and includes electrical items such as power tools,
computers, printers, temporary lighting, kitchen equipment, televisions, projectors
and also items such as kettles in hotel rooms.
- How often does Portable Appliance Testing have to be undertaken?
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The frequency of testing varies considerably and each individual item needs
to be assessed accordingly dependant on use. For example a drill used on a
construction site may need to be tested every 3 months because there is more
chance of it being damaged in such an environment whereas an infrequently used
projector may only require an annual test.
- What documentation should I receive on completion of the Portable Appliance
Testing?
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Upon completion of the exercise you should be presented with a report
detailing which appliances have been tested. If necessary a list of remedial
works will be included detailing any items that need to be taken out of service or
attended to in order to bring them up to a satisfactory condition. Additionally a
sticker should be applied to each individual appliance to evidence that it has had
a test. The sticker should state when the test was undertaken and when the next
test is due.
- Who should undertake a Portable Appliance Test?
-
A competent person who has received recognised training, and who is in
possession of suitably calibrated testing equipment.