All electrical equipment should be installed and
maintained in a safe manner by a competent
person. If portable electrical equipment is
used, including items brought into a workplace
by staff, then your fire risk assessment should
ensure that it is visually inspected and undergoes
portable appliance testing (‘PAT’) at intervals
suitable for the type of equipment and its
frequency of use (refer to HSE guidance
). If
you have any doubt about the safety of your
electrical installation then you should consult
a competent electrician.
Issues to consider include:
• overloading of equipment;
• correct fuse ratings;
• PAT testing and testing of the fixed
installation;
• protection against overloading of
installation;
• protection against short circuit;
• insulation, earthing and electrical isolation
requirements;
• frequency of electrical inspection and test;