This is the first stage of the whole PAT testing process and also the most regular of all of the tests to be carried out. However you do not need a pat tester to carry out the inspection.
Along with the formal visual inspections, regular user checks should also take place. Below is more detail of both types of checks and inspections.
User Checks
User checks are exactly how they sound. The person who uses the equipment must regularly check the appliance and report any faults that are found. A formal check should then be made and if a fault is found then it should be logged. If no fault is found then no log or record needs to be made. |
|
Formal Visual Inspections
The IEE Code of practice states in bold within the Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment that “the most important check that can be carried out on a piece of equipment, particularly portable appliances or hand-held tools, is the visual inspection”.
As mentioned before you do not need a tester to do the visual inspection. What you must do is visually inspect the following:
Check the Plug
Are there any cracks, damage or heating?
Are the pins insulated?
Is it correctly terminated?
Are the connections tight?
Does it have the correct fuse size and does it carry the ASTA symbol?
Is the cable secure?
The Cable
Check that the cable has no connector blocks or joins, no lumps, bumps, hard or soft spots and no damage to insulation or cuts to cable.
The Appliance
Check that there are no missing screws, cracks or damage to the appliance casing and no signs of overheating. Check that the on / off switch operates correctly and that there is no excessive contamination on the casing.
Any abnormalities should be reported and if necessary the appliance taken out of action. |
