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A significant number of electrically related injuries and fires in the workplace arise from poorly maintained equipment and so it is important that equipment is checked regularly. This process is often referred to as ‘PAT testing’ but the types of checks required are often misunderstood and the frequency of tests not carried out with real consideration of the actual risks. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ guidance takes into account current HSE and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) guidance and provides practical and pragmatic advice on managing electrical equipment.

Most common electrical hazards can be seen and do not require any particular electrical training or skills. Problems such as broken equipment, damaged cables or plugs/sockets are obvious and so the ´óÏó´«Ã½ guidance places a great reliance on the user-check being the primary line of defence.

Everyone uses electrical equipment, whether it is a mixing desk in a studio, a laptop power supply or kettle in the kitchen; everyone has duties to help keep equipment safe by doing simple checks before it is used. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ expects that all staff will ensure such user checks are carried out on the equipment that they use, whether or not it is equipment under their control. Examples of user checks are given in the documents on this page.

‘Bring your own device’ or BYOD is more commonplace with the advent of personal mobile phones and similar equipment although it is more common in productions where freelancers might bring their own cameras or similar equipment. See the page on Bringing your own equipment to work for more information on this.

Essentially any electrical equipment in the workplace should be maintained, whether owned by the ´óÏó´«Ã½, hired or leased. Electrical inspection and testing may require co-ordination with the owner of the equipment to ensure that it is done safely and does not put the equipment at risk of damage.

The requirements apply to all electrical equipment, whether battery operated or mains-powered. The level of inspection and, if required, testing varies depending on what the equipment is.

What Can Go Wrong?

Death, injury or fires arising from:

• Damaged or broken equipment cases
• Chaffed, cut or other damage to electrical cables
• Damage to plugs and sockets such as bent pins, damaged cases, signs of overheating or exposed wires
• Inappropriate use of equipment (e.g. connecting a European style plug into a UK style socket)

Legal/´óÏó´«Ã½ Requirements

• Both the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR) require equipment in the workplace to be maintained.
• The ´óÏó´«Ã½ guidance on the electrical safety of equipment states the requirements for the frequency of inspection and testing and the levels of competency for those doing the checks.
• Information on the test methods and requirements for the visual inspection is available from the IET (See links).
• Equipment mounted in racks and bays such as servers or production equipment is subject to a different routine described in the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Guidance on rack and bay testing
• The  also provide useful guidance including FAQs on portable appliance testing
• Employees must not use any electrical equipment (whether their own or not) if they suspect it of being damaged or dangerous. If safe to do so, disconnect it and take it out of service and report it as a near miss on MyRisks.

Division Specific Issues

• The ´óÏó´«Ã½ guidance on the electrical safety of portable appliances covers all areas of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ including studios, workplace and foreign bureaux and offices.
• Generally equipment taken by UK based staff and used abroad will be still be subject to the same requirements of this guidance. Where local equipment is sourced and used in foreign offices by local staff, the UK legal requirements will not apply. However it is the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s policy that the principles of this guidance should be applied to ensure the safety of staff in the ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s employment.
• ´óÏó´«Ã½ Workplace is responsible for inspection and test for the fixed electrical supply and infrastructure in ´óÏó´«Ã½ buildings.
• Each division/department is responsible for its own electrical equipment and must have systems in place to ensure that appropriate checks are in operation.
• The facilities management teams can arrange for the inspection and testing of equipment that you plug into the building supply.