If your workplace uses electrical equipment with a plug, the short answer is that you almost certainly need a portable appliance testing regime. The duty to keep electrical equipment safe applies across virtually every sector, from offices to hospitals to construction sites. This guide sets out who needs PAT testing, the sectors where it matters most, and how it applies to landlords and small businesses.
The general rule
The obligation is not tied to a particular industry. Any employer who provides electrical equipment for use at work has a duty to ensure it is safe and maintained, and PAT is the accepted way to meet that duty. So the question is rarely "does this apply to me" but "how should I apply it here". If people use portable electrical equipment on your premises, you are in scope.
That said, some environments carry more risk, use more equipment, or serve more vulnerable people, and in those settings testing matters all the more.
Sectors that need PAT testing
PAT applies wherever portable electrical equipment is used, but these sectors have particular reason to take it seriously.
|
Sector |
Why it matters |
|
Offices and private companies |
Computers, chargers, kitchen appliances and extension leads in daily use |
|
Hotels and hospitality |
High turnover of appliances used by staff and the public |
|
Hospitals and healthcare |
Critical equipment and vulnerable people |
|
Schools and universities |
Large estates, laboratories and equipment used by many |
|
Construction |
Power tools in harsh conditions, at high risk of damage |
|
Retail and manufacturing |
Continuous use of a wide range of equipment |
Construction stands out because tools are dragged around, exposed to damp and knocks, and used hard, so they need checking far more often than equipment in a clean, static environment. Healthcare and education stand out because of the number of people, including vulnerable ones, who rely on the equipment being safe.
Landlords and rented property
Landlords who provide electrical appliances as part of a let have a responsibility for the safety of that equipment. Where a landlord supplies items such as kettles, cookers, washing machines or lamps, keeping them safe and maintained is part of protecting tenants, and testing is the practical way to demonstrate it. Providing safe electrical equipment is both a duty of care and a protection against liability.
Small businesses
Small businesses sometimes assume PAT is only for large organisations, but the duty applies regardless of size. A small office, cafe or workshop still has computers, kettles, tools and extension leads, and still owes its staff and customers a safe environment. The scale is smaller, so the effort is smaller, but the obligation is the same. For many small businesses, a competent person testing on a sensible risk-based cycle is straightforward to arrange.
FAQs
Do offices need PAT testing?
Yes. Offices are full of portable electrical equipment, computers, chargers, kitchen appliances and extension leads, all of which fall under the duty to keep electrical equipment safe. The environment is low-risk, so testing intervals are longer, but the obligation still applies.
Do landlords need to test appliances?
Where a landlord provides electrical appliances as part of a tenancy, they are responsible for the safety of that equipment. Testing is the accepted way to keep supplied appliances safe and to demonstrate that duty of care to tenants.
Does PAT apply to small businesses?
Yes. The duty to keep electrical equipment safe applies regardless of company size. A small business has fewer items to test, but the same responsibility to its staff and customers.
Whatever your sector, if you use portable electrical equipment you have a duty to keep it safe. Talk to us about testers, training and how to set up a sensible testing regime.