Posted By T. Fowler I am about to give advice in a dispute between a staff rep and a manager in charge of a maintenance service, and would like to run it past the knowledgable eyes of this forum first. A new staff rep is taking his role seriously and has brought to my attention the fact that PAT testing on electrical drills etc has not been carried out for almost ayear when the frequency laid down in our procedures is three monthly. I know the manager is going to plead lack of time to do these things and, whilst pointing out his absolute duty to protect his staff from harm I want to try to help him. I have no great faith in PAT testing. Having many years experience in Equipment Management I am struggling to recount an occasion where earth bonding or earth leakage tests have brought to light significant problems. To carry them out every three months I think is very over-indulgent. If the situation warrents regular checking of the equipment I believe the best people to do it are the users and they should be trained to do so, in exactly the same way as we don't have MOT tests monthly where vehicles may be subject to intense ware and tear, we require the user to recognise split windscreen wipers, baldy tires etc. My advice will be that we reduce the formal, time consuming PAT testing to an annnual frequency and train our staff to look for recognise and report damage and other faults in the equipment they use. What do you think?

Posted By Marcus Pereira Slightly off topic - but - if you change your system during the 'dispute' you are likely to lose all confidence of you safety reps. It may appear to them that you have backed down to suit the management!

Posted By Geoff Burt T Kevin has the right approach - but talk it through first with the rep and manager. That's all there is to it - end of story. Geoff

Posted By Stuart Nagle I think you sugestion of getting the maintenance persons trained to carry out the PAT testing is the sensible and correct solution. The employees duty is to assist the employer in complying with the legal duties imposed and this will ensure that the employers safe working procedures, that require 3 monthly testing, are complied with. (you can worry about reviewing the periods of inspection/testing later on, based on the reports/records you get). In addition it will show the safety reps, and hence the employees, that the employer is not only wanting to meet the safety policy/procedures devised, but is serious in doing so and making the resources available to ensure it is done, as required. The added benefits are better trained and competent employees. What you must do is ensure that when this done, it is monitored rigourously to ensure that the PAT testing by the trained and competent employee(s) is carried out on/by the dates required, as required, and records maintained. This will serve several purposes; 1) ensure that the testing is done, seeing as how the safety rep has brougt it up!!, and 2) may discourage situations where matters are brought up for the sake of it, because for example (due to work pressures) a date has been missed. 3) will assist the (overworked) manager in ensuring that the safety procedures are being employed as required without him/her having to do it all. 4) may help improve the safety culture of the employees, knowing that all the above has been listened to and action taken. Don't however give the safety rep the opportunity to tell his fellow employees 'I did this' and 'I got this sorted'. Take the initiative by saying at the meeting that it has been recognised that XXXX and that Management are going to XXXX and make sure this is followed immediately by a safety notice going up infoming employees what MANAGEMENT are doing and selecting employees for training (enough to cover shifts/holidays etc) and seeing training dates are given. If you audit? ensure that these items are covered on the audit in future.... PS: don't let the %*&$X*^* wear you down!!