Portable Appliance Testing Is Sensible, But What Does It Cost?

When you run a business today, in the 21st century, you are subject to a whole raft of laws which simply didn’t exist 40 years ago. It is quite possible that you wouldn’t even think about many of these laws because you are running a business and your focus is on profit.

However, among many other things, today we have Health and Safety, (one well-known journalist refers to it as “Elf’n’Safety”) which also didn’t exist 40 years ago. Now we have the HSE – Health & Safety Executive. It is not necessarily a bad thing, although there are so many rules and recommendations that understanding them all almost requires a university degree. Some people might consider that they are a little “over the top”.

Now the HSE doesn’t actually make the laws – the government does that – but it does advise about them. The HSE cannot force you to do anything, but the government can.

Some of the laws are very confusing. For instance, you are required to ensure that all your electrical equipment in your business is safe for your employees to use. This is why portable appliance testing came into being. Your appliances can be tested for safety by a qualified electrician. The law doesn’t require you to use portable appliance testing, but – unless you are a qualified electrician – how are you going to know? The law also suggests that you should have your appliances tested “regularly” but doesn’t state what that means. Every week? Once every 20 years? Both would be “regular”.

In fact, popular opinion suggests that it would be advisable to have them tested once a year. That way, you can be sure that you are complying with the law to keep your employees safe.

The simple fact is that electrical appliances DO degenerate with wear and tear, and the more they are used the faster they will wear out and become potentially dangerous.

So portable appliance testing for your business makes total sense. However, what does portable appliance testing cost? That rather depends on how many portable appliances you have in your business, because the more there are the longer it will take a qualified engineer to test them. As a very general guide, companies that provide testing will apply a portable appliance testing cost based on the number of appliances, and this can range from £1.00 to £2.00 per appliance.