Although a good initial level of safety can be achieved by correct selection and use of equipment and its connectors and cables, lasting safety can only be attained by ongoing and effective maintenance.
Effective maintenance of portable electric equipment can be achieved by a
combination of:
- Checks by the user
- Formal visual inspections by a competent person
- Where necessary a combined inspection and test, also known as a portable appliance test (PAT), by an electrically competent person.
The aim of these checks is to determine whether the equipment is fully serviceable
or whether remedial action is necessary to make sure it is safe to use.