PAT Testing – is your organisation overdoing it……?

Last November (2011) the government commissioned a report (now referred to as the Löfstedt Report) with the remit “…to look into the scope for reducing the burden of health and safety regulation on business, whilst maintaining the progress that has been made in health and safety outcomes.

Amongst it’s many recommendations the report said that: “The requirement for portable appliance testing should be further clarified (including through changes to the wording of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 if necessary) by April 2012 to stop over-compliance and ensure that these messages reach all appropriate stakeholder groups.”

The HSE have reissued it’s guidance (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf ) which makes it clear that not all appliances have to have formal TESTING and that many appliances in low risk office environments only need VISUAL inspection every 2-4 years.

If you would like help in reviewing your arrangements then we would be happy to advise.

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