We are in a very similar position, with the exception that we got workers to bring power leads etc into the office to be tested.

However if you look at the FAQ section on the HSE website regarding PAT testing you will find that the HSE themselves dont PAT Test their own equipment for reasons that are detailed (https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm - Are there and case studies about poertable appliance testing.

HSE's approach to maintaining portable appliances in its own offices

In 2011, the HSE reviewed its approach to portable appliance maintenance in its own offices. Thinking about the type of equipment in use, and how it was used, the HSE looked back at the results from its annual testing of portable appliances across its estate over the last five years. Using the results of the previous tests, the HSE decided that further portable appliance tests are not needed within the foreseeable future or at all for certain types of portable equipment. Also, they decided to continue to monitor any faults reported as a result of user checks and visual inspections and review its maintenance system if evidence suggests that it needs revising. Electrical equipment will continue to be maintained by a series of user checks and visual inspections by staff that have had some training.)

As we have never had a PAT failure for office type equipment in years (the same as HSE) we are looking to move to annual user checks with PAT testing only for cables with suspected damage/

Originally Posted by: jcollins

I'm interested to hear how others are managing electrical safety for home workers. Our staff have been provided with equipment for use at home (a laptop - which they carry to/from the office; monitor(s); mobile phone charger; multi-way adaptors; some have a desk lamp or printer). They've been given guidance on carrying out regular user checks and instructed to report any issues to IT Dept immediately.

As we don't want them fiddling with plugs and fuses to carry out visual inspections themselves (some would be more competent than others!), we arranged for a contractor to visit them at home to carry out a combined inspection and test of the equipment and all associated power cables (not practical for staff to bring their equipment in to the office for testing).

Our staff (who have been approved to work from home) have laptops (carried to and fro), and are issued (for use at home) docking station, PSU, 2x screens, mouse keyboard, webcam, headset, multiblock extension lead.

Part of the approval to work from home process requires that they acknowledge they are responsible for providing a safe mains supply and for doing occasional visual checks (what a visual check entails is described), and some rules such as not to daisy-chain extension leads, not to plug heaters / cookers into the multiblock lead, etc.  They are instructed not to do any maintenance (including not to change fuse in the power leads).

I'm not sure what 'fiddling about' visual checks entail - unplug it from the wall, look at it, plug it back in.  It's easier than plugging it all together oin day one, and we don't send an electrician to plug in their screens for them either.

We don't do home visits.  We don't plan on PAT testing this equipment periodicaly.  We do PAT test equivalent equipment in the office, but actually I'm more interested in that exercise as a periodic visual inspection of every item - 98% of it doesn't really need PAT testing, as per some of the guidance already referenced in the thread.

I think there's a good chance we will add a periodic requirement for people who are approved to work from home to confirm that they have done a visual inspection of the equipment, in order to maintain their approval, but we've only recently brought in this system so haven't done so yet.

I'm going by the definitions of a (1) User Check; (2) Visual Inspection and (3) Portable Appliance Test shown in the HSE guide to Maintaining portable electrical equipment in low-risk environments https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf.

Our staff have been given guidance on carrying out the regular User Checks, but not Visual Inspections which are described as follows.

To carry out a visual inspection you don’t need to be an electrician, but you do need to know what to look for and you must also have sufficient knowledge to avoid danger to yourself and others. Simple training can equip you (or a member of staff) with some basic electrical knowledge to enable you to carry out a visual inspection competently. 

As part of the visual inspection, you should consider whether:

■ the electrical equipment is being used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions;

■ the equipment is suitable for the job;

■ there has been any change of circumstances; and

■ the user has reported any issues.

The visual inspection should include the checks carried out by the user and, where possible, will include removing the plug cover and checking internally that:

■ there are no signs of internal damage, overheating or water damage to the plug;

■ the correct fuse is in use and it’s a proper fuse, not a piece of wire, nail etc;

■ the wires including the earth, where fitted, are attached to the correct terminal (see Figure 1);

■ the terminal screws are tight;

■ the cord grip is holding the outer part (sheath) of the cable tightly; and

■ no bare wire is visible other than at the terminals.

For equipment/cables fitted with moulded plugs only the fuse can be checked

It's not possible for us to train folk to do this and verify their competency (I appreciate it's a simple task for some, but not for others)

I appreciate all your views / comments on how you're handling this in your own workplaces so thank you.

Originally Posted by: jcollins

I'm going by the definitions of a (1) User Check; (2) Visual Inspection and (3) Portable Appliance Test shown in the HSE guide to Maintaining portable electrical equipment in low-risk environments https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf.

Sorry, yes - I was thinking of the 'user checks' level of work set out in that document, which is what we tell users to do.

Having said which, as Peter has noted, most equipment now has moulded plugs.  I've actually this afternoon checked and everything we issue (dock PSU, screens, multiblock) comes with moulded plugs, so actually our users could do nearly a whole 'Inspection' in accordance with INDG 236.  The fuse covers don't have viewing windows, so you can't check for presence of fuse / absence of silver foil, bits of nail, twisted paperclips) without prising it open and as noted, we explicitly say not to 'even' change a fuse, so I'm not likely to change that guidance.  However, that's not actually what I was thinking when I posted!