We had a chat in the office to come up with the hacks we use to get through our PAT Testing more efficiently. Here are our top PAT Testing Tips!
Your Risk assessment will cover all aspects of PAT Testing and most importantly how often an appliance needs to be tested. Make sure you assess each appliance or area in accordance with the risk presented. So for example: static computers in a quiet office space with only one or two workers. You may decide the risk is very low and the computers etc. only need testing every couple of years. In the kitchen area however, you may have members of the public or other workers using appliances. The appliances themselves may present a higher risk or indeed, the people using the appliances may present a higher risk. These may need testing annually or even every 6 months. Equipment used on construction sites needs testing every 3 months!
One of the PAT Testing tips we found helpful was to do a room at a time, or a workstation at a time. So in a small office, you can set aside an hour and do everything, or maybe just 15 mins to do a workstation at a time. By zoning the areas to be done, the task is less daunting and easier to tick off.
It sounds really obvious, but make sure you have a checklist of what you need before you start:
There’s always a tricky appliance that you know is earthed (Class I), but it takes you ages to find a good earth connection to allow you to do the PAT Test. Make sure you make a note of where it is so that next time you aren’t messing around trying to find it.
You may also have the disappearing appliance! The one that you tested before but you can’t find now! Make a note of who is the main user of the appliance and you can ask them straight away rather than going on a wild goose chase looking for it. Often they have just found somewhere more convenient to keep it. (Our laminator is the classic item for this) It may even be that the item has been thrown away and replaced. By keeping in touch with the users, they can alert you to any changes. Especially if there are any problems.
All users of appliances have joint responsibility for checking an appliance is safe to use. So make sure they know how to do a visual inspection. They don’t need to do a full visual inspection every day. But it makes sense that they take responsibility before they use an appliance. Especially if they haven’t used it for a while or if it is new to them. It may make sense to get them to do the Free Online PAT Testing Course CLICK TO DO THE COURSE
There are certain appliances or exceptions that you come across in PAT Testing where you simply don’t know what to do, that’s ok, but rather than spend ages trying to work it out, you can just call us on 01392 364933. Just have the appliance and PAT Tester in front of you and we can talk you through it.
If you would like free advice regarding PAT Testing, please don’t hesitate to call Dale on 01392 364933. When you call have the PAT Tester and the appliance you are PAT Testing in front of you, and we can take you through the test step by step. It’s helpful if you know the Class of the appliance before you call.
