Question:
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Answer:
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. However, the Regulations do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty upon employers to ensure the "Health, safety and welfare of persons at work" and also any other persons connected with "The activities of persons at work".
An employer has a duty for "The provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health".
The Act places a duty upon an employer or self employed person to ensure the health and safety of persons "not in his employment". The provisions laid down, place a duty upon all Employers, Self employed persons and organisations which have premises that are open to the public, to ensure that persons working within or using their premises or facilities are safe.