If you are talking about care homes with vulnerable persons sleeping accommodation, I would say that PAT is a reasonable control measure, but must be carried out as part of a visual inspection of the electrical appliance. I think some people put too much faith in PAT alone, which can only very slightly reduce the risk of fire. Examples: 1) A NHS office where policy was to everything was PAT annually (way more than is recommended by the HSE and others) - However, one admin worker had 3 in-line multiple socket adaptors under her desk. All the sockets were filled with transformers for phone charger, an anglepoise lamp, a calculator and so on. Then she had completely covered the electrical apparatus with files, boxes of paper and loose sheets of paper, thereby completely insulating the transformers and plugs. When questioned by me (whilst carrying out a FRA), she and her manager pointed to the PAT labels and argued "it was safe"- yeah right!. 2) A FRA I completed at a private mental health alcoholic 'drying out' unit. This centre operated a 'wet' approach to care, allowing clients to drink whilst being treated. The risk of fire was high. Most of the clients were vagrant/homeless and did their own laundry and limited cooking. One had bought a TV into his room. It had a coat hanger aerial, a huge crack/hole in the casing covered in parcel tape, plus the flex was not properly secured by a grommet as it passed into the back of the TV. Again, staff pointed to the new green and white PAT label which had passed the appliance fit for use. I asked the client how long he had owner the TV and he revealed it was 'rescued' from a skip two months before. How did that get a PAT label? It seems to me that so many PAT testing professions simple plug in the gizmo and if it shows a green light, all is well. Having a PAT policy without including a full visual inspection of the appliance is like getting a MOT for your car by only 'dipping' the oil. PAT must be more than ticking a box to say you've done it, especially in high risk environments as care homes etc

Hi Paul - of course you are right. But many PAT companies quote for the number of appliances to be checked, and when they get the contract, there is rarely any QA carried out. I watched a contractor PAT in my office a few months ago. He disappeared under a cluster of desks and spent more time sticking labels on to CPUs than he did on the actual test itself. Even if done right PAT can only be seen as offering a limited control measure against a fire. With no inspection, it's next to useless