Ensuring the safety of your guests and staff is paramount for any hotel owner or employer. It is therefore critical that all hotels adhere to strict electrical testing.
Health and Safety law dictates that all employers must ensure their portable electrical appliances and electrical installations are safe. Figures show up to 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances.
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing) basically involves the periodic testing of electrical appliances within a commercial or domestic setting to identify any possible faults which could make the equipment unsafe. A hotel contains any number of portable electrical appliances frequently used by guests including kettles, hairdryers, irons, lamps and televisions. There are also risks for staff from equipment such as desktop computers, vacuum cleaners, photocopiers, faxes and all manner of handheld kitchen equipment.
PAT testing involves a visual inspection to look for possible damage to cabling or wiring as well as specialised testing equipment to ensure they do not pose any danger to staff.
Steve Loofe from Manchester-based PAT testing and electrical safety testing contractors, Patman, who carries out work in many hotels and business premises, says: “Regular PAT testing will help minimise any accident from unsafe or faulty electrical equipment.
Pat Testing can safeguard your hotel working environment
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says around 95% of faults or damage to portable electrical appliances can be found by a simple visual inspection. This action can safeguard your working environment and also protect your insurance policy as some insurance companies will reject a claim if a fire or an accident occurred as a result of faulty electrical equipment which was not subject to a regular maintenance programme.
As a business you could also find yourself in court facing a fine or imprisonment if you do not take your responsibilities to protect staff seriously”.
Damaged equipment can cause fires or result in electric shock. When carrying out visual regular visual inspections, electrical engineers will ensure cabling is not worn or frayed, no bare wire is visible, there are no burn or scorch marks to cabling and that plug and terminal screws are tight. Formal inspection by a qualified electrical contractor will also involve opening of the plug top and checking correct fuse is fitted and terminals are tight.
The HSE advises employers to carry out a formal visual inspection of all desktop computers, photocopiers, fax machines, table lamps and fans every one to two years, while floor cleaners, vacuum cleaners and kettles etc. should be checked every six months to a year.
One North West company who can deal with all your PAT testing needs is Patman. Contact them on 0161 643 1424 or visit www.patman1.com
