Here we go again...personally I have no issues with the office personnel putting them up on the tree providing a simple visual inspection is done prior to use.... but should they be PATested ?????? Please if we can keep responses short and sweet !! Christmas is fine but my birthday (Also 25th!!) is better :-)

HI Ron, These are lights provided along with the tree and some tinsel stuff by us as the employer. We dont allow the employees to bring anything electrical in from home which makes it nice and easy. I am in no way trying to spoli the festivities just need to make sure we are all safe and no silly avoidable instances occur !

Yes do a PAT also request visual checks daily, for frayed wires and bad wiring to plugs Turn off the lights when the area is vacant, no combustibles near the tree lights, and ensure all wiring is not a trip hazard. Bah Humbug.

In which case, this appliance should be on the inventory and subject to the established PAT/safety regime in the same way as is applicable to all portable appliances in the establishment. The frequency and scope of that regime is for the employer to determine on the basis of risk and could be an annual formal visual with a test and inpection every (say) 5 years (by which time the tree may well be fit only for the bin). If this light set is quite old and the lights are single insulation (the type where you can see the conductor through the plastic) then I'd err on the side of caution and chuck it anyway.

Mark/all Christmas tree lights are mostly (if not always) double insulated Class II pieces of kit. INDG236 has a 'suggested intervals' for testing on page 5. This clearly states that double insulated equipment DOES NOT testing. It does recommend a Formal Inspection (which is visual ony) every 24 months. This approach is also supported in the IEE Code of Practice for the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (Second Edition) Hope this answers your question Adrian

I got this from County Druham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service site http://www.ddfra.co.uk/index.php Have a look and you will see the pictures used. It says 70% of house fires include electrical appliances or wiring problems as a contributory or causal factor. That is enough for me to advise that we go above and beyond the requirements for double insulation electrical equipment (if we believe the hazard and risk require it). That is after all why we do a risk assessment. Anyway here is there "The 12 Days of Christmas Fire Safety" which they could at least have tried to make rhyme. On the 1st day of Christmas Check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard On the 2nd day of Christmas Never place candles near your Christmas tree or furnishings. Don't leave them burning or unattended On the 3rd day of Christmas Make sure your family and guests staying for the festive period know what to do in an emergency. Make a fire excape plan On the 4th day of Christmas Decorations can burn easily - don't attach them to lights or heaters On the 5th day of Christmas Most fires start in the kitchen - never leave cooking unattended On the 6th day of Christmas Celebrate Christmas and New Year safely. The risk of accidents, especially in the kitchen, is greater after alcohol is consumed On the 7th day of Christmas If you are planning to celebrate with fireworks, store them in a metal box, read the instructions, never go back to a lit firework and keep a bucket of water nearby On the 8th day of Christmas Check the battery in your smoke alarm every week and use Christmas as a reminder to clean it and remove dust On the 9th day of Christmas Keep candles, lighters and matches out of the reach of children On the 10th day of Christmas Never overload electrical sockets. Take special care with Christmas lights On the 11th day of Christmas Make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before going to bed On the 12th day of Christmas Take time to check on elderly relatives and neighbours this Christmas - make sure they are fire safe Son of Skywalker

PAT is not a legal requirement. But for the sake of a couple of quid if you are that unsure by a new set. Don't ban them thats always one way to have to work harder next year to get people on board with health and safety. They'll always remember that you banned Christmas.

Why should anybody bother replying to the same old 'ban it' stuff the DM is so fond of? Yes, much more sensible (and very similar to what Ron said.

Wholeheartedly agree Bob, particularly where the machine is in inexperienced hands, or where the PAT regime is done to a per unit/ piecework rate. I've seen damaged appliances "passed" when the copper conductors in the cable were visible. Proper formal visual exam. is crucial.

Taylor, the comment get a life is quite true the cost of buying a new set of xmas lights is so low the cost of getting them PA tested would cost just as much or possibly more so no point buy new ones that are doulble insulated and dump the old ones. The only bit that is of high enough voltage is the unit that plugs in anyway, the light themselves are low voltage. I noticed the elf and safety comment but chose to simply giggle to myself and think get a life, been in this world long enough not to get to upset about such comments, seen many people killed and seriously injured to worry about such things mate.

Why do Christmas Tree Lights needs to be PATested, as they are not portable appliances? European standards define portable appliances as equipment that is either: • hand held whilst being connected to the electrical supply, or; • is intended to be moved whilst connected to the electrical supply. I’m not agreeing whether or not they should be tested electrically (if I had my way there would be no Christmas decorations at all...Bah Humbug!!), just that I don’t agree that they are a portable appliance and should be tested under this basis.

PA testing came about because of the many types of portable kit in use such as drills, saws, kango hammers etc. These yend to be abused by being thrown into the back of a van, the plug pulled out with a good yank on the cable rather that using ones hands to pull it out properly, etc. PA testing was never intended for the likes of microwaves and fridges and christmas tree lights. The business world set themselves up to do such testing and included in its terms of reference evry thing fitted with a plug. That was not what the PA testing scheme was about,. but it made money to prentend otherwise. We have it now but remember what the thing is really about.

SL, there are some companies who have realised that they are wasting money and I agree with you that drills etc need testing quite often, whuile other types of kit can be tested every five years or so (HSE quidelines available on the net). Those who have paid quite large sums of money to train in PA testing need the myth to continue to get thier investment back and keep themselves employed. I have seen a van near where I live suggesting it is a full time business. There is one point with your process that makes me think why, you say that other equipment such as fridges and dishwashers are only tested where someone has examined it and believe that they may need testing. What issues are these because if the see a defect surely it should be taken out of use and repaired or replaced?

What a lot of heat for very little light. For the cost of lights they could be best regardedas disposable - Not environmentally friendly but an excellent H&S solution Bob

Genuine LOL moment! thanks for that. :-)