Frequently Asked Questions
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In addition, Kevin is a sole trader - now don't see that as a bad thing, our customers would appear to like the consistancy and trust they get when they see the same face each year! Kevin rapidly gains an understanding of your business, its individual requirements, quirks and layout. It also means if you phone us on the mobile, you won't be put on hold or passed from department to department and should you have a problem, the buck stops here! Who else could I blame?
The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
It is a legal requirement to have a policy of regular maintenance in operation which covers all your electrical appliances. P.A.T. more than meets this requirement when performed by a reputable person or company - such as Reedsafe!
Of late, P.A.T. has gained a far higher presence in the workplace as many insurance companies, landlords, even colleges placing work experience students into a business insist that a P.A.T. policy & proper testing is in place as part of their conditions. Local Health and Safety authorities have also been known to impose fines on businesses where appliances in use by employees have not been properly tested or maintained. With the introduction of the new fire risk self assessments, having your electrical appliances tested regularly helps towards showing due-diligence on the business owner's part.
It really holds no relevance if the appliance is new or a few years old either as The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state as follows -
Inspection
6. - (1) Every employer shall ensure that, where the safety of work equipment depends on the installation conditions, it is inspected -
(a) after installation and before being put into service for the first time; or
(b) after assembly at a new site or in a new location,
to ensure that it has been installed correctly and is safe to operate.
If you are a business owner this document may not make for easy bed time reading but reading through it may just help to keep you out of court.
Equipment that is stored on your site but not used or tested should be locked away and a label placed upon it stating that "This equipment has not been tested and must not be used" effectively quarantining it.
We have been testing appliances for the second hand market on an almost daily basis so have much experience in this field.
It is essential that only qualified and experienced personnel use this specialist test equipment. Severe damage can be caused to your equipment whilst under test if it is not fully understood how to operate the tester - there are also several tests where mains voltage is present.
Also, what would happen if an amateur damaged your appliances or caused an accident on your site? Using a reputable company / person means these mistakes do not happen. Reputable persons also carry insurance!
Extension leads certainly need to be tested. They are subject to some of the roughest handling of all appliances. In addition, home-made leads can be some of the most unsafe items we see.
So be it a small hand held grinder to a washing machine, a hair dryer to a walk-in cold room, if its got a cable and plug - it should be tested. That also applies to items that are "fixed" to the wall, ie. digital telephone exchanges.
However, properly trained and experienced personnel who understand their test equipment would never apply a test to an appliance that could potentially damage it.
Our equipment is specially designed to test I.T. based appliances such as computers, fax machines and network devices to give just a few examples but also bear in mind that of late, even coffee machines and washing machines can have micro processors on board that could be damaged by applying incorrect tests.
Incidentally, all our test equipment is annually serviced and calibrated by an independant calibration house to ensure it is always working safely and accurately.
We always advise you to seriously consider who you let loose on your expensive assets.
However, we will not fail an appliance if a new fuse or plug can be fitted! We carry 3a, 5a, 10a and 13a fuses, 3a, 5a and 13a fused plugs, flex of different sizes and types, BS approved in line flex connectors, cable restraints and stuffing glands of different sizes and switches for commercial glasswashers, dishwashers, hot cupboards and bain maries.
We even carry some replacement tubes for ultra violet fly killers and batteries for some modern brands of EPOS systems!
We can even supply and fit heating elements for hot cupboards etc.
It's always good to hear from existing customers - no matter what the problem - afterall, I hope to see you again next year!
