UK Portable Appliance Testing industry in a sorry state

"The quality of workmanship in PAT testing has reached an all time low as cheap prices have seriously affected quality," suggests Grant Foster, KTS director.

"The last 5 years has seen an epidemic of cheap prices flooding the market in portable appliance testing. At first sight this may seem welcome for the many companies using this service in compliance with Health & Safety legislation. However, it is also the case that the relevant and important visual checks, as set out in the IEE Code of Practice, are often being ignored on a large scale by companies who are keen on making a fast buck. Quite often the engineers on site are not to blame, as they are forced into racing around the workplace doing as many tests as they can in a day, simply to earn an average wage. High pressure is often put on them as they receive such a low rate per unit, and then have to pay their own petrol and expenses.This is no excuse in itself for poor quality, it just means that "cut price" = "cut corners." This is all very well, but dangerous appliances which should be found in the workplace and removed, are still remaining in place after the test, which makes the test in itself completely pointless. This is very dangerous and could ultimately cost lives.

The onus is now on company procurers of the service, and facilities managers, to make wise choices when appointing companies to carry out PAT testing work, as the main electrical bodies involved, ECA, Napit and NIC, appear reluctant to stamp out the problem."

How to Avoid being a Shocking Landlord!

According to government statistics released last month almost a fifth of all fires in UK homes are caused by electrical faults. In 2008 this resulted in 27 deaths and over 1000 injuries. In addition to the risk of house fires almost 14,000 people are injured each year by electrical appliances according to the latest government estimates.

As the number of portable electrical appliances in furnished rented properties continues to increase, from cookers, to TV’s, to stereos and games consoles, PAT testing or portable appliance testing is becoming an increasingly important part of a landlords responsibility to ensure their properties are safe and fit for purpose.

Under UK law without regular PAT tests a landlord could be found to have failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their tenants, and leave themselves liable to fines, imprisonment and invalidation of their property insurance.

Phil Buckle, director general of the Electrical Safety Council comments;

“It is vital that landlords understand their legal obligations when it comes to electrical safety in their rental properties. Landlords are required to take reasonable steps to ensure that appliances provided as part of the tenancy agreement are safe. Failure to do so can put tenants in danger and can result in prosecution.”

Portable appliance testing is more important than ever with the number of deaths caused by electrical faults at such a high level and more electrical appliances than ever in rented accommodation. Establishing a regular program of portable appliance testing not only gives landlords the peace of mind of knowing they have taken all the reasonable steps necessary to make sure any electrical equipment they are providing for tenants is safe, but it also ensures they comply with the law.

Although there is no statutory period for completing electrical safety inspections, best practice would see PAT testing on all appliances at change of tenancy and after that on an annual basis.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS…..

Although the legislation isn’t as explicit as the Gas Safety (installations and Use) regulations 1998 which place unambiguous requirements on landlords to ensure the safe operation of gas appliances under their control, there are a number of laws which cover the area of electrical appliances.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, mandatory since 1 January 1997, which state that all electrical appliances supplied with let accommodation must be safe.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 affects all persons who let property in the course of their business, defining them as “suppliers”, supplying goods to the tenant.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which now also covers “self employed persons” and “all persons affected by their operations”. This has implications for landlords who appear to fall within the definition of a self employed person as being “an individual who works for gain or reward otherwise than under a contract of employment.”

These mean that under the law, a landlord has duties both as a ‘supplier of goods’ and as the ‘person responsible’ for an electrical installation. As the supplier of goods, the landlord has to ensure all goods are checked before the tenant takes them over and as a ‘person responsible’ needs to ensure an adequate system of maintenance.

Please call us on 01628 850650 for any further information.

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Comment on the state of the PAT industry

When I started out in the PAT testing industry nearly ten years ago, I soon found out how being paid in terms of price per item became a competition I didn’t really want to play. Several engineers working on one site meant an unhealthy competitive spirit developed in the working environment, as they strove to find the easy tests and therefore make more easy money. Proper visual inspections were not carried out on appliances and faults such as snags in cables were left under desks, as the “sticker it up” brigade marched unceasingly toward the financial goalpost they had set themselves for that week.

How nothing has changed in those ten years. It is even worse now, with the larger companies offering ridiculously low unit prices for so called “testing.” I see it with my own eyes as evidence of bad testing consistently shows itself. And it’s easy to spot, believe me. It may be a cover screw sticker on a plug top that’s obviously never been undone, or a 13 amp fuse in a desk fan, but it’s evident.

How low does the price have to go before people start noticing that actually, how can an engineer do 300 tests in a day and do a proper job? The most sophisticated equipment in the industry does not carry out a visual check. This continual price cutting does nothing to serve the industry well, clients may think they are getting a good deal but it could be the end of quality workmanship as we know it, and one day, somebody will die because the PAT testing company ignored the basic rules of inspection. A bit of paper doesn’t mean you’re safe.

Where is the PAT testing industry watchdog? The main bodies know cheating goes on but can’t seem to do anything. Large PAT companies may pat themselves on the back (forgive the pun) in the industry magazines when they announce a new deal with a blue chip company, but so what – is a good job being done and IS THE CLIENT SAFE?

Sad but true, this is how life is in the PAT testing world but who is taking notice? To the companies out there who still aspire to quality, affordable cost, good workmanship, and SAFETY – I salute you.

Grant Foster

Director

Kingsmead Testing Services Ltd. Discover Voltimum here