Extension leads in shop/factory

[Eljohnno]

Do extension leads come in the same category for testing as portable appliances ? Do they have to be tested or does a visual check suffice ?

[redman41]

Extension leads like everything else need checking from time to time just incase there is damage to the insulation which could be dangerous.

[webbo3]

these are the legal requirements for PAT testing.

http://www.pat-testing.info/legal.htm


Dave.

[Teleph0ne]

How do you propose to have fulfilled your duty of care if someone is injured if you haven't carried out inspections and testing by a suitably competent person?

[Teleph0ne]

You should inspect and test all portable appliances including leads to the IEE code of practice. Should an accident occur and you haven't followed the code of practice or equalled it then you will be prosecuted

[Hymie]

I’m with Zacsmaster on this one – all of the electrical equipment in my home will never be PAT tested throughout the life of the equipment. It is very unlikely that I or anyone else in the house will suffer an electric shock (and I don’t have an ELCB fitted – for added protection).

My rationale for this is the original construction/manufacture of the electrical items being such that I can reasonably expect them to remain safe throughout their life – and therefore need no further testing/verification of this to be the case. The exception to this is my power tools – given their nature of use, I will visually inspect the integrity of the power cord, prior to use (but not every time). Other than this, there is no reason to believe any of my electrical equipment should become unsafe.

I would like to see a large employer take the same stance with their electrical equipment – saving themselves a fortune on their annual PAT test bill. I believe that such a position would be defendable in a court of law.

[Teleph0ne]

That would be no defence in court, unless you have followed or equelled the aproved code of practice for the in service inspection and testing of electrical equipment then will be prosecuted, that is not an opinion, that is fact! your drill at home is a domestic appliance and is totally different

[Teleph0ne]

You can't expect an item to remain safe, especially drills and extention leads etc as they are constantly dropped, misused and generally abused, items like this especially on construction sites and workshops need inspecting and testing every 6 months, a monitor or item in an office that remains fairly static needs inspecting and testing every 4 years, items like kettles toasters etc are 12monthly.

[Whickerman]

I can only speak for here in Ireland, but I'd imagine that the same rules apply (roughly) as they'll be based on EU directives at some stage.

Yes, they do fall under PAT testing, and a visual check will suffice. In fact there's specific reference in Irish law, and further, you should also risk assess the lead itself and its potential to be a trip hazard or potential to have leads pulled from inside if someone does trip on it or pull the lead.

Hymie - there's absolutely no legal obligation to PA test in your own home provided you aren't providing tools for workmen to use. If you were an employer you would be opening a ridiculous can of worms by refusing to protect yourself in law and your employees from potential danger. Like it or not, it would be a legal requirement.

[Hymie]

My defence would be that I (and everyone else) who buys electrical equipment, can reasonably expect it to remain safe throughout its serviceable life (power tools and alike, excluded due to their nature of use).

Why should a PC used at work become electrically unsafe after 5 years of normal use? If it does, the manufacturer has a serious problem.

[wishy123]

Hymie, I'm afraid you're wrong. Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations in the UK, an employer is strictly liable for any injury caused to an employee by defective equipment, electrical or otherwise. There is no defence. If the item has been properly looked after and the problem relates to a defect, the employer may be able to pass on some or all of the liability to the manufacturer or supplier, but if he hasn't done anything to maintain or even check it for safety, he probably wouldn't have a leg to stand on. It would be a very foolhardy employer indeed who tried to save money on PAT testing and thereby exposed employees to risk - what about the power lead that gets trapped and kinked during an office reorganisation, or a cup of coffee spilt over a fan heater - should an employer ignore these events too, or assume they don't need to check these items?