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Posted By Lee Daines
I have been asked whether our portable hoisting equipment requires PAT testing. The hoisting equipment itself is 24v dc, but the chargers are plugged into the mains so do they need testing?? The chargers have to be disconnected when the equipment is used.
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Posted By Ken Taylor
They sound both portable and electrical.
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Posted By Tony Brunskill
Depends on how they are put together and how they are used.
Loads of guidance on HSE website and HSE Books.
But as an example, if the chargers are used only at a base location,i.e. a workshop, are well maintained, free of damage, properly stored, not abused and double insulted it is possible that they will only need testing every 3 to 5 years with visual inspections every , say three months and user checks before each use. If they are abused, taken on site, hand held etc the risk is greater and therefore testing needs to be more stringent.
You got it, Risk Assessment lol, sorry.
As for being portable and electrical so is my maglite but I would never let an electrical engineer anywhere near it.
regards
Tony
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Posted By Lee Daines
Thanks Tony that's a great help. The chargers are double insulated, all are used indoors only in clean dry environments and are well looked after. They are "loaned" on a regular basis to our local county council where their employees' use the equipment. This I'm sure will mean that the equipment has to be inspected on a more regular basis, and certainly before it's sent out on loan.
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Posted By Innes Gray
Some times you think the world is a small place.
I have been asked the same question regarding chargers on Pedestrian fork lift truck (small push around only lifts 50kg and has a 12vlt in built charger)
may be a little different on my site as the people who do the PAT testing send in a squad of 4 to 6 ppl and spend 2 weeks on site.
So the cost involved in adding 14 units on to there list is minimal so we went down the road why take a risk and did a Pat Test on them all.
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Posted By Ken Taylor
OK, Tony, so your answer was more helpful than mine - but the question was as to whether this piece of equipment needs PAT testing and the answer is still 'Yes' in as much as it sounds to meet the definitions of portable, transportable and electrical and to require combined inspection and testing as per the published HSE Guidance. The frequency of inspection and testing of any electrical equipment is a matter for assessment by a competent person taking into account the published guidance.
We weren't talking about your maglite or even my cycle lamp.
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Posted By Alan Hoskins
Hi Lee,
If the chargers are double insulated (Class 2), as most will be, then they only require regular visual examination and a formal visual inspection every year. In your circumstances, I would examine them for damage each time they are issued/returned.
If the chargers have detachable mains leads, then, in addition to the above, the leads should be PAT tested at least every two years.
It does also depend on the environment in which they are to be used though.
Info is in HSG 107 and a Guidance Note is available from IEE.
Alan
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Posted By Linda Westrupp
If you are talking about patient hoists here, which I suspect you might if they are being loaned to local LA, then go to the MHRA website as there is lots of information on hoists and manual handling aids which could prove useful to you. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/
They will also, of course, be inspected under LOLER every 6 months - have you asked your service engineers if they PAT test the leads and test the battery and connections?
Linda
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Posted By Lee Daines
Thanks Alan!
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