PAT Testing News Round-Up - Issue 20

This issue covers:

HAE launches new electrical safety guidance

The Hire Association Europe (HAE) has introduced a new Code of Practice to ensure the electrical safety of hire equipment.

In recent months the HAE has been working with HSE, IET, electrical testing equipment suppliers and member companies to produce clear guidance for electrical safety testing in the hire sector.

The result is new industry best practice advice and guidance to assist companies that hire electrical equipment and appliances to the general public or businesses and recommends good working practices for the management of in-service electrical equipment for hire companies.

It also underlines the legal duty of care operators have to ensure that equipment made available for hire remains in a good safe working condition and that routine electrical safety testing is necessary to ensure that all equipment supplied by the hirer meets this requirement. More details at www.hae.org.uk.

Electrical product safety under the spotlight

This year’s Product Safety Conference will attempt to put the safety of electrical products for the consumer into context by addressing a range of interrelated issues and perspectives.

Hosted by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) on 16th May at London’s Church House Conference Centre, the event will look at safety design principles for electrical products in relation to foreseeable misuse, and a review of consumer protection in terms of communicating risk.

However, a key focus of the conference will be an evaluation of recall processes and ‘traceability’ – i.e. how dangerous products are tracked within the supply chain and to consumers, for repair or return to the company issuing a recall notice.

“Over the last two years, UK product recalls have grown by almost 30%, with faulty and unsafe electrical consumer products a major contributor to this increase”, explains Martyn Allen, Head of Technical Development at the ESC.

“Although product recalls are usually issued because of a design or manufacturing fault, they can also arise through misleading labelling or supply chain issues – which is one reason why this is a conference that is relevant to the electrical product industry as a whole”. More details at www.esc.org.uk.

HSE Toolbox on electrical safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has used its regular series of news bulletins to highlight its ‘toolbox’ information on electrical safety.

The online information urges visitors to the online portal to ‘focus your attention on real risks in your business; take simple precautions when working with or near electricity and electrical equipment.’

The information provided includes a simple case study detailing a workplace electrocution incident, alongside some advice on the sort of precautions that should be taken to prevent similar situations and accidents being caused.

In keeping with the latest IET Code of Practice, the importance of carrying out an assessment of any electrical hazards present is emphasised. It also advises that the risk assessment should take into consideration the type of electrical equipment used, the way in which it is used and the environment that it is used in.

For details see www.hse.gov.uk

APAT project groups to be established

The Association for Professional Appliance Testing (APAT), is looking to set up additional project groups and committees to help raise standards in the industry.

The move gives those in the PAT industry the chance to become more actively involved and enquiries can be directed to memberservices@theapat.org.uk.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 1st March and formal responses will be made after this date to anyone interested in getting involved.

PAT & Risk Assessment explained at special training courses

A series of dedicated one day training courses will cover all of the Portable Appliance Testing and Risk Assessment implications of the new 4th Edition of the IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

The special courses, hosted by electrical safety testing specialist Seaward, are designed to improve understanding of duty holder responsibilities under the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989

PAT testing
The introductory Portable Appliance Testing course is designed to enable both electrical and non-electrical personnel to gain an understanding of the basic principles of PAT testing and provide practical, hands-on, experience of inspection and testing.

The course will equip delegates with sufficient technical knowledge to be able to carry out testing of electrical appliances and maintain comprehensive records in line with the industry advice and guidance.

The course content will include carrying out formal visual inspections, using the various electrical safety tests, identifying different faults, testing different types of equipment and understanding test intervals.

Visit the PAT training courses page for full dates and venues:

8th March - Banbury 11th March – Daventry
13th March – Chester 26th March – Carlisle
2nd April - Glasgow 11th April – Nottingham
16th April – Ashford 18thApril – Chelmsford
30th April – Belfast 7th May – Liverpool
14th May – Birmingham 28th May – Sheffield
4th June – South Mimms 18th June - Harrogate

Risk assessment for PAT – receive a FREE IET Code of Practice book worth £55
The focus on a risk based approach to workplace electrical safety testing introduced by the new IEE Code of Practice puts a new emphasis on the roles of the dutyholder and the person performing the inspection and testing and in the determination of retest intervals.

This one day course is designed to help those involved develop a full and thorough understanding of the 5 step process of risk assessment advised by the Health & Safety Executive and its application to portable appliance testing.

Course content will include the risk assessment process and the factors involved, the requirements of different electrical equipment in different circumstances and practical assessment exercises.

All attendees will receive a free IET Code of Practice book worth £55.

Full details of dates and venues for the Risk Assessment for PAT training courses are available at /training/risk-assessment-for-portable-appliance-testing. They include:

5th March – Exeter 6th March – Cardiff
7th March – Banbury 12th March – Daventry
14th March – Chester 27th March – Carlisle
3rd April – Aberdeen 9th April – Lincoln
10th April – Norwich 17th April – Chelmsford
1st May – Belfast 8th May – Liverpool
15th May – Birmingham 29th May – Sheffield
5th June – South Mimms 19th June - Harrogate

On completion, successful participants in the training courses will receive a certificate of completion issued by the Seaward Group.

New dates and venues are constantly being added for the months ahead. Further details at: www.seaward.co.uk/training or call 0191 587 8744

Free Seminars Explain New IET Code of Practice

If you haven’t already, come and join us at one of our free breakfast seminars on the new fourth edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

New dates and venues are constantly being added for the months ahead. For more details, or to book a place, go to www.seaward.co.uk/seminars