Legislation

It is considered that routine inspection and preventive maintenance are absolutely
essential to prevent accidents when using portable equipment.

The main legal requirement surrouding this
area is the testing of portable appliances
(PAT Testing). This is found within the
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, namely that all electrical systems are:

i. of such construction, and

ii. maintained

So as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger.

By definition an electrical system is:

"a collection of electrical equipment connected to a common source of electrical energy ".

Electrical equipment includes: "any appliance ranging from a table lamp up to a 400kv overhead line".

An appliance consisting of a plug and connecting cables is an electrical system and must, therefore, by law be suitably constructed and maintained so as to prevent danger.

Before equipment can be maintained, it must be inspected and tested to determine what, if any, maintenance is required.