The process of PAT testing is far beyond having a nicely commenced and completed process. It is more than necessary for you to conduct the electrical testing of various appliances, but you must ensure proper safety during the process. During the process, the safety of your employees should also be considered. There should be no sacrifices related to it.
When you use the equipment for testing, you will find yourself stuck in a series of misconceptions. The myths can become a big hurdle in the testing process. Hence, they need to be busted.
Let’s learn about them and bust them so that the testing process is completed efficiently.
1. Toaster Checks
Many businesses conduct the testing process. Many of these businesses will claim that the toaster inspection should be conducted every 12 months.
Now, is it true, and if yes, then to what extent?
The strictness behind this is that it is not entirely true. Generally, a 2-year period is enough and considered a food frame for sticking to the PAT testing process. The same period is suggested for the toasters. So, you need not hurry and haphazardly begin the steps. It would be best if you waited for the right time to come and do things systematically.
2. Tester Training – The Importance
The process seems simple, but as a tester, there are many responsibilities that you need to cater to. The process does not end by learning some steps and investing in the testing kit. There are many myths that you qualify as a tester when you buy a testing kit. The reality is something different. You need to be competent and cater to the steps and guidelines to do justice to the process. Apart from having the right skill, your experience and attitude for the same. You don’t need to get the desired results in a single go. Sometimes, you need to do repetitive testing. So, having the right attitude and the ability to look at the brighter side is a must.
3. The Sort Of Equipment To Be Used In The Process
If you are done with the testing for once, does it mean that there is nothing more to it?
Are you sure that getting the desired results is the end of the process?
If you are thinking it to be a yes, chances are that you need to re-think it.
People tend to let go of the fact that the testing is incomplete for future requirements if you are not taking care of the equipment. It holds importance as you cannot test and gain the desired results until you maintain the testing equipment. It needs calibration annually and also, and a skilled person should do it. The costs can vary, and the period takes about 5 days to come to one full circle. However, it would help if you never compared safety with prices.
4. Equipment Labeling
Another myth related to this process revolves around the legal angle stuck to the process of equipment labeling. Many people will tell you that you need to label your equipment as it is a legal requirement for the testing and inspection process. It is their way of charging extra money for the same. Other speculations exist that people arise and say the labeling activities must be recorded.
However, there are no legal must-haves that prevail in reality. If you do it, you might have the edge over business work like management and maintenance, followed by a more straightforward process of reviews.
5. The Way To Go About For Having New Testing Equipment
Sometimes, the need of the hour will push you to invest in new electrical equipment. When you do this, hundreds of people will be recommending the dos and don’ts of testing.
But all this comes down to one point.
Whether the newly bought machinery needs testing or not.
You can skip the testing if you have invested in new equipment recently.
Another thought might hit you: the testing should only be done when?
You are free from doing the testing process for 2 years. However, if you come across any visual checks flagging concerns of various kinds, you should not delay and conduct the testing process as soon as you can.
6. The Need For Visual Checks – True Or Not?
Now, when the discussion regarding visual checks is up, you must highlight another misconception that revolves around this. So, the myth is that you won’t need visual checks if you are up-to-date with the standard testing flow. However, the reality is that it is far from being the right thing.
Visual electric checks are essential. They hold importance when it comes to the daily maintenance of electrical appliances. Hence, it would help if you did not skip it. In fact, the employees should be encouraged to conduct these checks on items before employing them for use.
7. The Question Of Using Battery-Operated Electrical
The subsequent use coming your way is using electricals that operate on batteries. If the on-site has any electricals of this kind, there is no need for you to conduct the testing process on them.
If someone is telling you otherwise, you need not waste your time. Instead, you can shift your focus to more important things.
8. Confusion Related To The Contractor
If you have a contractor to help you with testing, it does not mean you are off the hook amid the whole thing. However, there are specific guidelines that need to be followed, and also, you need to focus on legal practices. So, randomly picking anyone cannot be the right thing to do. But, the rise of third parties can create confusion.
The solution is to collect reviews from third parties and ensure that you choose someone reliable to complete the work.
Conclusion
Myths can make or break the process. Hence, it would help if you never turned a blind eye to them. You should keep yourself updated and try to go to the root cause of the misconceptions. They can help you enhance the quality of the testing process.
