Health & safety regulations

There are many laws protecting people in the workplace, and your responsibilities as an employer are never fully explained. But there is a consensus among the various Acts of Parliament:

Employers have a duty of care

Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:

• the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and
• the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.

25 Maesgwyn

Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999

The same duty is shown in numerous laws passed over the last 30 years. None of these state that PAT Testing is a strict legal requirement – but it is the most sensible option when you consider:

• The Health & Safety Executive recommends PAT Testing as the most reliable way to fulfil your duty of care
• Tests carried out by your own staff can be queried in the event of an accident. And without a certificate, your case might be difficult to prove
• Many insurance companies require a PAT certificate before providing cover. And those who don’t could need one before processing a claim

With so much at stake, most businesses choose to save time and money through regular PAT Testing.