Posted By Ron Hunter Biggest problem with this can be locating the items listed on the inventory (always assuming that an inventory exists!). The bigger the organisation, the bigger the problem. External contractors have price and time pressures, whereas your own engineer will perhaps have a better "local knowledge" and better scope to allow things to be tracked down. Where your external contractor sends back a report/updated inventory with several items marked "not found", is anyone within your Organisation charged with reviewing and actioning that information? (In effect you have to employ some time of one or more of your employees anyway to ensure the contractor actually does his job - contract monitoring?) Establishing and monitoring the competencies, activities and progress of an internal function can in many instances be easier than for an external contractor. Counter arguments tend to focus on resources - i.e. your engineer no doubt has other things to do and other work pressures too?

Posted By CFT John We sent one of our guys off to get qualified and with 38 commercial premises to look after he is always busy; taking into consideration the purchase of the PA testing equipment and the training and certification it has saved us a fortune. I am however talking about thousands of items over a few year period. It has had a ring-off, in-so-much we have charged for him to look after tenant electrical equipment. Just My opinion. No right or wrong here. CFT

Posted By Geoff Armstrong Be wary of contractors who fail to consider assessing the frequency of testing and would rather just test everything annually. An assessment would reveal that some items should be done more frequently (if they are used roughly and thrown into the back of a van on a daily basis) and other items such as office equipment and PCs (that are hardly ever moved and when they do get moved it is done with care) that could perhaps be tested every two or three years. Might keep you safer and also save you some money better spent on other safety issues.