Portable appliance testing

The HSE says that: “The law simply requires an employer to ensure that electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger — it does not state that every item has to be tested or how often testing needs to be carried out. Testing appliances to ensure that they are safe to use can contribute to an effective maintenance regime, but in a low-risk environment, most dangerous defects can be found simply by checking the appliances for obvious signs of damage such as frayed cables.”

HSE guidance on portable appliance testing, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments, is available on its website.