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Our PAT training date for Thursday February 23 has only one space remaining. Contact Jo Damsell on Jo@parker-bell.co.uk if you would like to book on this course or call 01392 364 933.
The next PAT Training day is Thursday March 22 in Exeter. You don’t need previous experience in PAT testing to attend as it is aimed at those with little or no experience. There will be a short test at the end of the day and successful candidates are issued with a Parker Bell Certificate of Training. For more details visit our training page on this website.
 The Quick Earth Finder (QEF) is a valuable part of your kit and can save you time when trying to source the earth point on an appliance. We have produced a handy maintenance guide to ensure your QEF is kept in tip-top condition.
1. Remove the batteries from the QEF when not in use, making a note of the correct way to re-install them at a later date
2. The batteries (and the battery contacts inside the casing) may be cleaned of any white electrolytic salts using a proprietary switch cleaner or similar, applied with a cotton bud or soft cloth.
3. The efficacy of the batteries can be tested using a battery tester. Parker Bell have one priced £12.99. Quote product code P056 when ordering.
Monday January 23 to Sunday 29 January is Electrical Fire Safety Week.
The national awareness campaign is run by Fire Kills and the Electrical Safety Council in a bid to tackle one of the biggest causes of house fires in the country. The campaign, aimed at householders, includes some of the following advice that is familiar to those carrying out the visual inspection during PAT testing. It includes:
• Don’t overload plug sockets
• Regularly check for worn or frayed wires
• Unplug appliances when not in use
• Keep appliances clean and in good working order
• Always check you use the right fuse to prevent overheating
Let’s hope that the campaign helps remind people to keep an eye on their portable appliances and spot faults before they become a fire risk.
Your PAT Tester should be calibrated to ensure it continues to measure correctly. The worst case scenario, should this not be done, is that you may not be able to substantiate your readings and PAT Testing findings should a claim be made against you. After setting up training, a PAT Tester and internal procedures, it would be somewhat frustrating for the whole setup to fail but for one simple annual check!
When a portable appliance tester is calibrated it is being re-set to its original settings. At Parker Bell we carry out calibration for our PAT Testers and we make the process as easy as possible for you. You will receive a reminder letter before the date it is due to be calibrated. Once you let us know you want to proceed we will send you a correct size box with all the paperwork for you to pack up your machine. Then all you have to do is contact us when it’s ready for collection.
Once calibrated you will receive a calibration certificate to keep with your machine. Of course, during the year between your calibration dates you need to be aware of where it is stored and check over for any damage such as cracked plastic, plugs or frayed wiring.
Along with ensuring your PAT Testing equipment is maintained you may want to consider having staff re-trained in PAT Testing every few years – procedures and technology changes, so bringing staff up to date with the newest techniques and safety concerns is probably a good idea. So don’t just put in place your PAT Testing procedures and then leave them to it – continue to monitor and maintain them, to provide the best level of safety for your office and your staff.
When carrying out the electrical test part of PAT testing, it is only Class 1 and Class 2 appliances that need to be tested using the PB500 machine. Class 3 appliances (which are those that can run independently of electrical power such as mobile phones) don’t require an electrical test, but do require the visual inspection, looking for any cracks, burn marks, etc.
However, the chargers and transformers that are used with class 3 appliances will come under Class 1 or 2 and therefore they do need to have an electrical test.
Take phone chargers for example, once you have carried out the visual inspection, plug the appliance into the PAT tester and press the appropriate class button. The earth continuity and insulation test will check the charger only. You do not have the phone attached, as this isn’t under test.
The British Safety Council has introduced an e-learning version of their established IOSH Managing Safety course, offering a more convenient way for managers to train in health, safety and the environment.
The new e-learning course is here: https://www.britsafe.org/training-qualifications/e-learning-courses/iosh-managing-safely-e-learning-course and offers an alternative to the four-day course carried out in various venues including London and Birmingham, or in your office at for additional cost (for larger groups).
The course covers responsibilities and risk assessment, how to effectively train staff and manage work time which ensuring safety measures, and what training and certificates may be required.
From an electrical safety perspective, the course will assist managers looking to ensure safety measures for an office and staff, and how to delegate electrical safety such as PAT Testing and PAT Testing training, plus all over work-focused risk assessments and training requirements.
The resulting certificate is awarded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, and aims to provide an excellent start for managers in workplace health and safety
Posted in News, Updates
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 Our monthly training session date has been set for January. The training session takes place in offices in Exeter. Starting at 10.30am, the cost of £135 plus VAT per candidate includes all course materials, refreshments and a buffet lunch.
Not bought yourself a tester yet, not sure which PAT tester? Why not go along on one of the training dates to understand more about PAT testing and the type of PAT tester you might require. We base our training around the PB500 and after the course you are entitled to a 10% reduction in the cost of the machine, should you wish to purchase one. But there is no obligation to buy and we will discuss with you other options and other PAT testers.
In the last month the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been consulting on a revised version of HSG195 – ‘The event safety guide – A guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events.’ This includes electrical safety regulations for such events, with revisions that include the areas of risk assessment and risk management, and the chapter that deals with ‘electricity and lighting’.
The revisions re-assert that event organisers must take reasonable precautions to ensure all electrical equipment and installations are correctly installed and safely setup, to avoid injury or death. They restate that all those working in these situations must be competent, that current devices and circuit breakers should be provided, and that lightning strikes must be considered and included in risk assessments and safety precautions.
They note that the size of an event will determine how much planning and testing (including PAT Testing) will be required, and they indicate the importance of maintaining testing, risk assessment and test result logs for all lighting and electrical equipment involved.
You can make yourself familiar with the complete documentation here, where consultation ended earlier in November: http://www.eventsindustryforum.co.uk/event_safety_guide/ and the HSE page for the consultation is here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/eventsafety
 When you carry out portable appliance testing (PAT) you are required to keep a record of each appliance that you inspect. Not only does this keep a history of the appliance under test, but it also shows your insurers and Health & Safety inspectors that you are complying with Electricity at Work regulations to check your appliances regularly.
These records should be kept in a safe place, either locked in a fireproof container or in another building to where the appliances are. If there should be a fire on the premises, caused by a faulty appliance, then you don’t want your records going up in flames too. You will need to show you have been regularly testing and inspecting your appliances. This is a worst case scenario but highlights the importance of keeping your records separate.
If you record your results electronically, then it’s a good idea to make sure you have a back up copy – either on another hard drive or printed out and stored somewhere safe. Although you can purchase record sheets easily enough, should you decide to design your own forms then the IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment book has guidance on what should be on that form.
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