Ed - Profile

The legality is that your old company have done a risk assessment and ordered all items to be checked before sale, a prudent move considering as they didn't know if the item was safe when purchased and need to cover themselves for sale of the item.

As for the training, again, the recommendation is that a "Responsible Person" does the work, however, if someone took them to court and their response was "well we did 5 minutes device training" and the court found that inadequate, they are responsible.

You cant better experience and just formal academic training is not adequate, its only my opinion, but in a society hell bent on claims and still (according to the internet) around 100 people dying each year from electric shock, its better to pay 0.59p per item and have a good nights sleep in bed!

 Another good point was the microwave, to see the emission counter go off the end of the scale when the microwave switched on and then after cleaning the seal the meter stayed in the "green" was a good lesson, I just wonder what happens when these emissions get out next to us (especially when you are looking in the glass door to see how its cooking!)

Some people on the internet seem to think its actually quite dangerous and not something pregnant women would want.

We just had our PAT done. 6 out of 46 items failed. The testes were carried out using a PAT device and physical checks.

One failure, a kettle, failed the internal PAT test, we looked into it and found the kettle was sometimes live!!!

We also had the microwave emission test done, that failed, the cause...a lump of food wedged behind the door seal, easy to fix, but something I wouldn't have checked, but this type of fault allows microwave emissions out...that cant be good for you! 

It cost 0.59p, money well spent.

I could do my own accounts (I am trained), but use an accountant to ensure no mistakes and no tax fines, why do my own electrics?

As a reasonable employer, I want to show the staff are looked after, if I don't do PAT testing, and something goes wrong, staff take me to court and the first question will be...prove you took electrical safety at work seriously...and  I do have evidence which only cost £27 for one year....come on....its not just not worth the legal risk...but what about your duty of care to your employees?