PAT Testing Edinburgh
Lights, Camera, Scotland now offer qualified Portable Appliance Testing. Our PAT Testing service is available across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Our in-house qualified PAT tester uses a specialist PAT Testing machine and logs and labels every item thoroughly to ensure it is safe to use.
PAT Testing
Our PAT Testing professional maintains a PAT qualification which is renewed every 3 years from our partners at 'Health and safety training 1st'. We are Edinburgh specialists at maintaining film lighting equipment, however our PAT qualification enables us to test office equipment, kitchen appliances, power tools, and many other items. PAT testing is not a legal requirement, but when portable electrical equipment is used in the workplace, or broader domestic environment, PAT testing is considered one of the most efficient ways to address the many regulations that require specific safety standards to be met. Working a lighting people, we have found many venues will not allow non-PAT tested equipment to be used without a PAT test certificate.
Risks of not PAT Testing
Electricity related incidents are very common in the UK. Workers who work with electricity, or with equipment that requires an electrical supply are at a higher risk of electricity related injuries. According to Statista, electrical discharge or contact with electricity caused 7.5% of the 40 workplace fatalities in Great Britain from April 2022 to March 2023, and this is also a leading cause of non-fatal injury in the workplace, with an average of 1,000 electricity related accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive every year. The construction industry is the most commonly affected by these electricity related accidents and fatalities, with 37% of workplace electrocutions occurring in this sector.
Fire Risks of not PAT Testing
Electricity is also the leading cause of accidental fires both domestically and in the workplace, where 9 of out 10 electrical related fires are caused by portable appliances, as opposed to faulty installations. Some portable electrical appliances can be considered to have a higher risk of causing fire - especially when they include a form of heating element such as microwaves, cookers, washing machines, dryers, lighting and portables heaters. These types of electrical appliances are responsible for around 12,000 fires in homes, and at work, every year. It is recommended that Landlords conduct PAT testing every 1-2 years to ensure the safety of tenants and reduce fire risks.
Maintaining Lighting Kit Hire in Edinburgh
As a business we hire out portable appliances / equipment for both use in the workplace or for domestic purposes, it is strongly recommended by the Health and Safety Executive that formal inspection and testing is completed before each hire. The hire company has the responsibility to make sure the equipment that they are hiring out is safe to use, and regular PAT testing can form a part of this, as well as inspections before and after every hire.
