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I've just been harangued by some spotty-faced kid in a call centre about my 'obligation' to get a sticker on all the plugs in the office.

£99 + VAT for the first 25, then £1.20 each. We have 20 or so, maybe more if you include random phone chargers.

2 questions

 - is it absolutely necessary to have everything tested? We're a very small business, me, one full-time and one part-time employee.

 - if yes, can I do it myself?

Known as PAT testing yes you do need to get this done,anything that is of portable size need to be tested i:e tv's monitors,computers kettles microwaves etc etc,

this is covered by the HASAW act 1974

If someone was to have an accident whilst using 1 of these appliances(un tested) then your ass would be theres FTW

but saying that on sites it is only enforced by the most up yr ass safety officers

look here for more info

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=ytff1-yff2&p=pat%20trsting&ei=UTF-8  (http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=ytff1-yff2&p=pat%20trsting&ei=UTF-8)

A guy I know set up a PAT testing company. He then helpfully managed to blow up several clients computers while testing them. FML!

Surely it's cheaper to just get hold of some of the stickers and fill them in yourself?

http://is.gd/vCXi

anyone want to buy 900 PAT Passed Stickers?

I am a qualified pat tester.n yup you are legally bound to cover not just appliances but all electrics.u know it makes sense.where do u stay?i could do u a turn possibly.

The new PAT testing machines save all data on hard drive or disk, it is a legal obligation to get all portable appliances tested. (basically anything with a plug, includes 110 volt shit too)
The sticker serves more as a reminder these days although its unlikely you will ever have to produce the original test results.
Btw if anything fails the test all the tester will do is cut the plug off, they arnt there to mend anything for you.
The price quoted seems all right to me as a mate of mine reckoned he got £10+vat per item!
Was it a video call btw?

PCs/ Laptops are exempt becaus of this

Are you actually legally bound to have items PAT tested?  I thought it was enough that they were safe?

Off to check...

Interesting:

http://www.thepattester.com/the_law.html

http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/july.htm

From the HSE site (July 2007 - so it might have changed:

Good point!

Its a process you can put in place to ensure your items are safe. Another process would be to renew such items on a regular basis, say, every 2 years or indeed Hard wire everything into the mains so that the recomended testing frequency would be every 5 years!

Thought it was gospel tbh, seems not. But then they back-track with this gem
"The only way that we can determine whether electrical equipment is safe, well-maintained and suitable for the purpose for which it is being used (the legal requirement), is if it is routinely, formally visually-inspected and instrument-tested ('PAT Tested'). Therefore, PAT Testing is implicit in the need to ensure that such equipment, at the time of inspection and testing at least, is indeed 'safe, well-maintained and suitable for the purpose for which it is being used'.

So its not law to have your gear PAT tested but the only way to ensure its fit for use etc is to get it Pat tested.

It seems similar to the situation with fire extinguishers and a fire risk assessment.  There are some legal obligations, but there are also 'guidelines' and it depends on local fire safety officer and what they're like, and what they enforce or not.

Pc,s are not exempt.they are under bs en 60950,but personally the flash test involves applying 3000 volts to the casing of most equipment.this is too much for sensitive equipment,and i refuse to do it.however earth continuity and insulation tests must be carried out.the most ovelooked part of the regs is the user checks.the user or employer must ensure his employees are aware of any risks and to define a schedule of visual checks outwith any technical checks.interestingly the eaw regs states ckearly that there is no need to inspect systems.however they must do all in their power to prevent equipment becoming dangerous.grey area indeed.

I'm going to print out that poster!

and have a look around the rest of that site

This only ensures that it was safe at the time of testing. It's similar to an MOT in that way.

Just because it's been tested doesn't mean that it will remain safe continually until it is next tested. Depending on what it is it may be used for 1500 hours or more before the tester visits again.

It's still down to the owner to ensure the continued safety of each item. If there happens to be an accident involving a tested item the fact it's been tested would help in any legal enquiry by the HSE. However, if the plug has been removed and the wires poked in to a socket with a screwdriver then the test means nothing because the item is dangerous.

PA testing should be used as an aid to assessing the risk of your portable appliances. Continued visual inspections are far more important to the HSE. If you keep your own log of weekly visual checks these will carry far more weight than a one off PA test by some dude who plugs your PC in to a fancy looking piece of kit. If you end up in court because someone has blown themselves up it will be your fault not the inspection guy's.

Also remember that to PA test you don't need to be an electrician. As long as you've done a simple course and have the relevant certificate you are good to go and buy a tester and start blowing people's PCs up. Just because someone has a PA tester doesn't mean they are any more competent than you.

Just do yourself a spreadsheet of all your items. Number them and record the serial numbers for each item. Visually check them every week and tick them all off on your list.

Also put out a memo to all of your staff telling them that they should always be on the lookout for any items that look unsafe. Tell them that as the user it is their responsibility to report anything unsafe as they are often the first to notice it. Once it's reported it's your responsibility to make sure that the item is immediately removed until it is repaired and safe to use again. If you don't remove it then you deserve to get the book thrown at you if someone gets injured.

Like I say this would carry far more weight with the HSE than a one off test every year and then ignoring the item until they come back again.