Reply to: Hmm. This is going to cause issues.

[Sockpuppet]

Have you had it PAT tested? I am surprised your client/employer allow you to do this.

MY employer is surprisingly blasé on this subject given that 100% of the workforce voted for this change.

The client doesn't really mind, everyone in here is screaming bloody murder about the heat.

If you add to that the fact that the Electricity at Work Act makes a presumption of guilt & you have to prove yersel innocent if someone gets fried.

Ah I knew I had PLI for a reason

[SueEllen]

H&S Jobsworth tosspots: ruining life since Labour came to power...

It was the rise of "no-win no-fee" that made organisations scared of doing anything they could get sued for by a member of the public or their staff.

Hence they hide behind H&S or the Data Protection Act as they think it's a plausible excuse that will make people back down.

The HSE and the Information Commissioner now regularly go out of their way to state that organisations hiding behind these who happen to get in the media are talking bollocks.

[Old Hack]

Have you had it PAT tested? I am surprised your client/employer allow you to do this.

I remember years ago working in Risley with a really badly designed building. In summer the air con couldn't keep it cooled so everyone brought fans/air con in which would cause a fire in the plant room so they got banned. In winter they couldn't keep the place warm so everyone had a fan heater under the desk which caused another fire in the plant room and got banned. Must had had 4 or 5 fires/cutouts in the time I was there.

My first kid was born in the summer of 2003. It was 36 degrees on the day she was born and in the lead up, was hovering between 32 and 37. It was murderously hot in the hospital, so I brought in a cold water evaporator for my wife to use. Some jobsworth came in and asked for it to be PAT tested, to which I explained to him I wpuld arrange for him to be PAT tested if he didn't fook off.

H&S Jobsworth tosspots: ruining life since Labour came to power...

[doodab]

No, a corporate H&SE manager in an £1bn a year industrial client, who we may safely assume understands the laws governing his role.

Selective myopia rules...

PAT testing isn't compulsory. However a combination of various H&SE rules that demand you minimise risk to your workers means that in effect, not PAT testing is a breach of the law.

Actually, H&SE guidelines are quite detailed about what does and doesn't need PAT testing. An awful lot of stuff doesn't, visual inspections are sufficient.

Do you also believe in fairies?

No, but I happen to know the H&SE guidelines recommend hire companies should inspect & test appliances each time they go out. So if they didn't, they could probably be held liable in the event of a problem.

[zeitghost]

If you add to that the fact that the Electricity at Work Act makes a presumption of guilt & you have to prove yersel innocent if someone gets fried.

[malvolio]

Did a PAT testing company tell you this?

No, a corporate H&SE manager in an £1bn a year industrial client, who we may safely assume understands the laws governing his role.

Selective myopia rules...

PAT testing isn't compulsory. However a combination of various H&SE rules that demand you minimise risk to your workers means that in effect, not PAT testing is a breach of the law.

PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions

One can probably assume that if something is hired from HSS it has been maintained in a safe condition.

Do you also believe in fairies?

[Platypus]

That is quite an assumption and one I wouldn't put any faith in looking at some of the crap they have wheeled out to me in times gone by. I know there is a difference between safe and tatty but still, didn't fill me with confidence.

Perhaps they're not really cut out for plant hire ?

[northernladuk]

One can probably assume that if something is hired from HSS it has been maintained in a safe condition.

That is quite an assumption and one I wouldn't put any faith in looking at some of the crap they have wheeled out to me in times gone by. I know there is a difference between safe and tatty but still, didn't fill me with confidence.

[doodab]

Yes it is, for any equipment over two years old. Less than that it can be assumed to be compliant. However I would be astonished if any company (or their insurers) allow high-load equipment they don't know to be used without being approved.

Did a PAT testing company tell you this?

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. However, the Regulations do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently (ie they don't make inspection or testing of electrical appliances a legal requirement, nor do they make it a legal requirement to undertake this annually).

PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions

One can probably assume that if something is hired from HSS it has been maintained in a safe condition.

[Platypus]

The air con or the HR team?

[SimonMac]

This should be interesting - I never realised how much hot air they kicked out.

The air con or the HR team?

[vetran]

What did you go down for?

7 years Armed Robbery allegedly (can't trust anyone down the Pub)

[zoco]

Risley.

What did you go down for?

[malvolio]

PAT testing is not a legal requirement

Yes it is, for any equipment over two years old. Less than that it can be assumed to be compliant. However I would be astonished if any company (or their insurers) allow high-load equipment they don't know to be used without being approved.

[Paddy]

PAT testing is not a legal requirement