Donating computers to charities.

scheming_gypsy

ohreally wrote: »

Show me where the HSE advise nothing requires to be tested.

i said nothing needs to be PAT tested which is on the link, not that nothing needs to be 'tested' at all.


http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pat+testing+law+hse&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

second link - not the including the sponsored link at the top.(INDG236)

texranger

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i said nothing needs to be PAT tested which is on the link, not that nothing needs to be 'tested' at all.


http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pat+testing+law+hse&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

second link - not the including the sponsored link at the top.(INDG236)

If you run a business and are in a business environment then all electical appliances from the small desk fan to the walk in fridge needs to be PAT tested. if it has a detatchable lead then its the lead that needs testing.

scheming_gypsy

They don't need to be PAT tested.

http://www.thepattester.com/the_law.html

The Law regarding PAT Testing South Wales

Contrary to popular belief, there is no legal requirement to have the electrical equipment in either the workplace or, in the case of any landlord or company-supplied electrical equipment in rented accommodation or residential care homes etc., PAT Tested*.

http://www.workplacelaw.net/forums/listComments/thread/Portable+Appliance+Testing/thread_id/1202

HSE guidance advises there is no requirement to PAT test a PC and monitor during the first five years of its life, however a visual inspection should be made at 2 and 4 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_appliance_testing

Extensive record keeping was made into log-books and generally the equipment used was an insulation resistance tester, simple hand tools and visual inspection. This testing and inspection was done under a planned maintenance scheme and predated both the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Act 1990 that are frequently quoted as the reason that PAT inspection is done.I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"][COLOR=#0645ad]citation needed[/COLOR][/URL][/I
In reality neither act nor their corresponding regulations detail PAT inspection as an obligation, but rather state a requirement of maintenance of safety and evidence of routine maintenance all hand-held, portable and plug-in equipment.

http://www.531pat.co.uk/is_PAT_testing_a_legal_requirement.htm

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PAT Testing a legal requirement?

The quick answer is no, you are not legally required to have PAT Testing carried out. However an increasing number of insurance companies stipulate that PAT Testing to be carried out as a condition of their policy. In addition it is a statutory requirement that electrical equipment is safe and suited to the purpose for which it is used as shown by the following regulations.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states:
“Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided”. (Regulation 4(1))
“Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair”. (Regulation 5)
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states:
“As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger”.
(Regulation 4(2))
“It shall be the duty of every employer and self-employed person to comply with the provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control”. (Regulation 3)

I can't find anywhere that says it's a legal requirement or the law to have anything PAT tested. The only thing that comes up anything like it is an insurance requirement.

Savvy_Sue

The requirement is to make sure everything's safe.

For many of us, the way to ensure that a proper inspection is carried out at least annually is to get someone in to do PA testing.

In some environments, an annual test would not be adequate.

If I was offered some computer equipment secondhand and there were no PA stickers on it, I'd probably want to get it carried out sooner than if there was a 'recent' inspection sticker.

However, I do remember helping to organise a conference, and we were told we couldn't use some of our own equipment because it hadn't been PA tested. The chap in charge said to me privately "I wish I'd know, I've got some spare stickers at home I could have used!" So how much reliance you should place on another organisation's PAT stickers is open to question.

texranger

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

The requirement is to make sure everything's safe.

For many of us, the way to ensure that a proper inspection is carried out at least annually is to get someone in to do PA testing.

In some environments, an annual test would not be adequate.

If I was offered some computer equipment secondhand and there were no PA stickers on it, I'd probably want to get it carried out sooner than if there was a 'recent' inspection sticker.

However, I do remember helping to organise a conference, and we were told we couldn't use some of our own equipment because it hadn't been PA tested. The chap in charge said to me privately "I wish I'd know, I've got some spare stickers at home I could have used!" So how much reliance you should place on another organisation's PAT stickers is open to question.

i worked for a voluntary organisation that werre on local authority premises and everything electrical needed to be PAT tested even if we purchased a new kettle it had to be tested before we could use it, but 1 of the volunteers was an electrician so all we did was purchase a roll of PAT labels stuck them on everything and got him to sign then.

patman99

Actually, new electrical items are exempt as they are still under warranty. I'm a Degree level computer engineer and as part of the course we studied what testing can be carried-out. The only test that can be done on a PC (but not a laptop) is a continuity test using a multi-meter to pass a current via the casing to the earth pin of the plug.

Btw, if you want to fully protect your computer from damage, change the fuse in the plug from 13 amps down to either a 3 amp or 5 amp depending on the result of calculating the following - Wattage of PSU/Volts (in the case of the UK, this will be 224v).

ohreally

Electricity at work regs 4 (2)

As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635/regulation/4/made

Provision and use of work regs 5 (1)

5.—(1) Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306/regulation/5/made

The workplace health safet and welfare regs 5 (1)

5.—(1) The workplace and the equipment, devices and systems to which this regulation applies shall be maintained (including cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/5/made

patman - BS1362 fuses are fitted at 3a (<700W) or 13A (>700w) - account taken for in-rush current.

ohreally

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

However, I do remember helping to organise a conference, and we were told we couldn't use some of our own equipment because it hadn't been PA tested. The chap in charge said to me privately "I wish I'd know, I've got some spare stickers at home I could have used!" So how much reliance you should place on another organisation's PAT stickers is open to question.

The stickers are immaterial, the duty holder should have a certificate with a competent persons signature on it. If something goes belly up that person may find themselves being accountable before a court - the sticker is of no real consequence whatsoever.

I am happy to conduct some in-service inspection and testing for some charities free of charge - ask about, i'm sure you will find someone with a charitable disposistion.

scheming_gypsy

ohreally wrote: »

Electricity at work regs 4 (2)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/635/regulation/4/made

Provision and use of work regs 5 (1)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306/regulation/5/made

The workplace health safet and welfare regs 5 (1)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/5/made

patman - BS1362 fuses are fitted at 3a (<700W) or 13A (>700w) - account taken for in-rush current.

but none of them say they have to be PAT tested.

ohreally

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

but none of them say they have to be PAT tested.

You obviously believe if you are put before the court, the above will be you defence.

The lack of explicit wording is not intended to be taken as no duty of care or compliance is implied. The means to demonstrate compliance is through documented in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment by a competent person.

Beyond that, we'll agree to disagree.