[John Kelly]

Just been informed by a customer that he was kicked off a commercial site this morning because his machine wasn't pat tested.

[Griffus]

Just been informed by a customer that he was kicked off a commercial site this morning because his machine wasn't pat tested.

This is something that's rarely questioned at site level but can definitely bite you if you let slip. His reputation will now be shot with this client, and potentially any associated.

For how much it costs it's daft not to just get it sorted. Insurance would look at this straight away if there was an electric related issue, any excuse not to pay up, then you'd be really stuffed.

[john martin]

"The Electricity at Work regulations of 1989 simply state that inspecting and testing must be carried out by a competent person, however does not mention a benchmark for competency"
 

Sounds like you could do it yourself and get the stickers off ebay ?

[John Kelly]

You can do it yourself. Obviously you need a pat testing machine. You can do an online exam and recieve a certificate saying you are a competant person.

[Kinver_Clean]

If you have an uptodate calibrated PAT tester you could do it yourself, But for the sake of a tenner or so get a 3rd party to test it. It will satisfy the insurance better if ever you should need it.
There is no regulation that lays down how often- only recommendations.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Billy has a certificate to say he's incompetent

Shaun

[Len Gribble]

Do brand new machines (just out of the box) need a pat lable

[John Kelly]

What happens if you are working in a commercial or domestic for that sake and your machine catches fire, it has been known, and sets fire to the house or worse still the building. The first thing your insurer is going to ask for is a pat test record for that bit of kit. If you haven't got one, well the consequences don't bare thinking about. It is a requirement of every commercial insurance policy that all equipment must be kept in working order and well maintained. If you can't even prove to them that you bothered to have it pat tested once a year they'll stuff you big style.

[Griffus]

Do brand new machines (just out of the box) need a pat lable

With new, out of the box kit we treat as though it has been PAT tested. Obviously no sticker but QC passed by manufacturer against serial number. We log the date of purchase etc. on the log.

The next lot of PAT testing it gets done, regardless if just a week after purchase, it justs gets all kit in line and prevents anything getting missed.

[Len Gribble]

Ian

Just playing devils advocate

Just been informed by a customer that he was kicked off a commercial site this morning because his machine wasn't pat tested.

new needs a lable on some jobs

[cannon]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/06/vacuum-cleaner-caused-400m-fire-on-sub-at-maine-shipyard/1#.UTpgU9ZA2BE

[Griffus]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/vacuum-cleaner-caused-10m-cutty-sark-fire-as-guard-slept-6872360.html

http://metro.co.uk/2008/09/30/cutty-sark-fire-caused-by-vacuum-cleaner-549311/

[cannon]

Ian, my $400m nuclear sub top trumps your £10m Boat 

But seriously we all (me included) think these things will never happen, but they do.

Whilst we're on the subject of electrical safety heres a very sad story about a carpet cleaner.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/carpet-cleaner-died-after-being-electrocuted-by-faulty-wiring-at-london-home-8198965.html

[Griffus]

Ian, my $400m nuclear sub top trumps your £10m Boat 

But seriously we all (me included) think these things will never happen, but they do.

Whilst we're on the subject of electrical safety heres a very sad story about a carpet cleaner.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/carpet-cleaner-died-after-being-electrocuted-by-faulty-wiring-at-london-home-8198965.html

Cannon, in money terms yes, but it's American, and the Cutty Sark classic British. I'd say that swings the balance 

[mark_roberts]

If Ive 20 electrical items needing tested how much to test them all or how much to buy this piece of kit.

Thanks
Mark

[Griffus]

It varies, but find someone local via recommendation and £25 will most likely cover those. Our guy comes to us and we get everything together ready so he just literally goes along the line.

Remember to keep a register. As well as an essential record it will prove especially handy when the test is due as it helps prevent any omissions. Remember to add new items as and when you buy them to ensure included in the next test.

[Neil Worsnop]

Do brand new machines (just out of the box) need a pat lable

With new, out of the box kit we treat as though it has been PAT tested. Obviously no sticker but QC passed by manufacturer against serial number. We log the date of purchase etc. on the log.

The next lot of PAT testing it gets done, regardless if just a week after purchase, it justs gets all kit in line and prevents anything getting missed.

I do my own testing.  Including brand new stuff.  PAT starts with a visual inspection and I've sent items back with damaged power leads and other basic faults easily identified. 
The fact that these items had a manufacturers safety check sticker on them goes to show how many people treat it as a sticker applying exercise.

[Jamie Pearson]

Do brand new machines (just out of the box) need a pat lable

YES

We once took a brand new Cimex machine to a job in a government building. Absolutely fresh, never used, by the time we came to collect the machines from the drop off point following all the pre-spotting work the duty engineer onsite had cut the plug off of it and some other machines.

The Cimex because of the label and some other kit because fuse holders were missing or electrical tape was on the cable.

This was, at that time, Europes largest office building and we were 4 machines down at the start of the shift.

We also have sites that require that all equipment that comes to site has been tested in the last 3 months and have to submit, by email, quarterly machine testing reports.

Sounds a bit OTT but when quoting commercial projects we include the machinery testing log with the proposal. Something others may not think of.

[Kinver_Clean]

Thank goodness I am seriously thinking of retiring.

What is it going to be like in 10 or 20 years.

I won't be around to worry!

[John Kelly]

I don't regard this as your "over the top health and safety claptrap" rather common sense and good work practice. Whats wrong in ensuring your equipment is in safe order and working correctly. If there was an incident I would expect the authorities to investigate that this was the case. This should be the kind of thing that sets apart professionals.