In accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition. Designed to help raise the standards of electrical safety in the workplace, portable appliance testing (PAT) ensures that electrical appliances and equipment that have been classified as "portable" are safe to use. Although the requirements are clear in their intent, they do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently. Organisations that neglect the inspection and testing of appliances, or fail to nominate a competent or appropriately trained individual risk invalidating their insurance policies and endangering lives. Should a fault arise in an appliance that is left unchecked or undetected by an under-qualified individual, the consequences could prove fatal.
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