PAT testing has been a legal requirement for all businesses in the Republic of Ireland since its introduction within The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation’s S.I NO.299 of 2007. Having the testing done each year ensures that you are fully compliant and that you and your staff have a safe working environment. However, what happens when the worst occurs and you don’t have a valid PAT testing certificate in place?

More and more insurance companies are now asking to see a valid PAT testing certificate in the event of a fire or electrical injury occurring in a working environment. Your claim may be delayed or even refused if you cannot prove that all of your electrical wiring and electrical appliances were safe for use. Local authority fines are also possible which was seen earlier this year when cinema group Cineworld were fined over 10, 000 euros and found guilty of failing to ensure that all electrical itms were of a safe standard to be used by staff. Lastly, you may also leave yourself open to a personal injury claim from the injured party if you failed to ensure that the correct safety checks were in place.

In order to protect your business from any of the above happening, an active PAT testing approach should be undertaken each year and the results and recommendations added to your Health & Safety Statement. You may also qualify for a reduced premium from your insurance company on production of these documents so it is always worth checking with your insurance broker.