Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments

Date of publication:
2013
ISBN:
978 0 7176 6591 4
Series code:
INDG236(REV3)

It's a myth that all portable electrical appliances in a low-risk environment, such as an office, need to have a portable appliance test (PAT) every year. The law simply requires employers to ensure electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger – it doesn't state what needs to be done or how often.

This revised leaflet explains the simple and sensible precautions that need to be taken to prevent danger from portable or movable electrical equipment in low-risk environments such as offices, shops, some parts of hotels and residential care homes. 

It also provides examples of this sort of equipment to help you to decide what you need to do to maintain portable appliances in your workplace.

The guidance includes equipment in hotels etc, previously covered in HSE leaflet INDG237 which has been withdrawn.

This guidance has been updated with a minor amendment to the table of suggested initial maintenance frequencies in relation to standalone cables.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/index.htm
  2. HSE Bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  3. Download a free copy - INDG236https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf
  4. Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment (under revision) https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg107.htm
  5. Electrical safety and you https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg231.htm
  6. Electricity at work: Safe working practices https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg85.htm
  7. Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsr25.htm
  8. Electrical safety at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm
  9. PAT - Portable appliance testing FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm
  10. HSE Books +44 (0)333 202 5070https://books.hse.gov.uk/
  11. Translated leafletshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/languages/index.htm
  12. Legislationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/index.htm
  13. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
  14. Science and Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/research/index.htm
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Updated: 2021-06-14