Important legal requirements for Pat Testing services
The legal aspects of PAT should be made clear to all businesses using electronic appliances. The pieces of legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance are the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts the duty of care upon both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises. This includes the self-employed.
Pat Testing Legal in Detail
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999:
- Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
- (a) The risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work
- (b) The risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.”
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998:
- Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989:
- All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, danger.”
Scope of the legislation
The combination of the HSW Act 1974, the PUWER 1998 and the EAW Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems down to the smallest piece of electrical equipment.