PAT Testing Risk Assessment: Worked Example and Planning Guide

A risk assessment helps identify hazards, decide who could be harmed and choose controls before PAT testing work starts. A written example cannot establish that the controls are suitable for a different site.

Employers with five or more employees must record their significant findings. HSE explains recording and review duties. Smaller employers still need to assess and control risks; contracts or other rules may also require a written record.

Why risk assessment matters

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers (and self-employed people in many circumstances) to:

1. Identify hazards arising from work activities
2. Assess the risks those hazards pose
3. Put controls in place to reduce risks
4. Record the assessment in writing (where 5+ employees, or where required by other legislation)

Review and update the assessment as conditions change

For PAT testing specifically, risk assessment isn't just bureaucratic — it's a genuine working tool. The act of thinking through "what could go wrong here, and how do I prevent it?" makes you a better tester. The document is the evidence that you've done the thinking.

Who needs a PAT testing risk assessment

You need a written PAT testing risk assessment if you are:

• An employer using PAT testers as employees
• A self-employed PAT tester providing services to others
• A facilities manager or duty holder responsible for PAT testing on premises
• A landlord or HMO operator with PAT testing as part of compliance

The format isn't prescriptive — what matters is that the assessment is complete, current and demonstrably reasoned.

What hazards to cover

A PAT testing risk assessment should cover hazards arising from:

Electrical hazards during testing

• Electric shock from faulty appliances
• Electric shock from incorrectly performed tests
• Damage to test equipment causing inaccurate readings
• Test voltages affecting sensitive equipment

Manual handling

• Moving heavy appliances during testing
• Working in awkward positions to access fixed appliances
• Carrying test equipment between sites

Working at height

• Testing ceiling-mounted equipment (projectors, lighting)
• Working in roof spaces or access cupboards
• Using stepladders during testing

Slips, trips and falls

• Cables across walking routes during testing
• Liquid spills near testing locations (kitchens)
• Cluttered or poorly lit spaces

Fire and burn hazards

• Hot equipment (kettles, heaters, kitchen equipment)
• Equipment overheating during functional check
• Smoke or fire from genuinely faulty appliances

Environmental hazards

• Working in confined spaces (under-stage, under-floor)
• Dusty environments (workshops, building sites)
• Wet environments (kitchens, washrooms)
• Hot environments (commercial kitchens, server rooms)

Lone working

• Working alone with no immediate help available
• Site access issues with single-person testing
• Communications during emergencies

Specific environments

• Construction site hazards
• Healthcare and patient interaction
• School and child protection considerations
• Industrial and machinery hazards

A complete worked example

Illustrative example only: the hazards, ratings and controls below must be reassessed for the actual site, equipment and people. The example does not show that work is safe to begin.

The following worked example illustrates how a record can be structured. Its hazards, risk ratings and controls must be assessed again for the real work before use.

PAT Testing Risk Assessment

HAZARD 1: Electric shock during testing

Who's at risk: PAT tester, third parties present during testing

Risk level: Medium (likely outcome: minor injury; severe outcome possible)

Existing controls:

• Testing undertaken only by a person competent for the specific equipment and task
• Use suitable instruments with calibration, verification and maintenance appropriate to the manufacturer's instructions and the work.
• Visual inspection performed before any electrical testing
• No testing of equipment showing visual signs of severe damage
• Insulated test leads inspected before each session
• Appropriate PPE worn (insulated gloves available where needed)
• All testing performed with appropriate clearance from third parties

Additional controls:

• Nil — controls assessed as adequate

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 2: Manual handling injuries

Who's at risk: PAT tester

Risk level: Medium

Existing controls:

• Heavier appliances (>15kg) tested in situ where possible
• Two-person lifts arranged for items >25kg or in awkward positions
• Tester carrying case and trolley used for transport between sites
• Awareness of proper lifting techniques

Additional controls:

• Routine fitness/flexibility maintenance for PAT tester
• Reporting of any injuries to wider team

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 3: Working at height

Who's at risk: PAT tester

Risk level: Medium

Existing controls:

• Standard stepladders carried for ceiling-mounted equipment
• Stepladder inspected before each use
• Stable working surface required before stepladder deployment
• No working from ladders for testing requiring two hands free
• Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) hired for high-level access where required
• No working at height in lone-working situations (deferred to scheduled team visit)

Additional controls:

• Work-at-height competence and equipment appropriate to the task; review training needs when work changes

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 4: Slips, trips and falls

Who's at risk: PAT tester, third parties

Risk level: Low

Existing controls:

• Cables managed during testing — not left across walkways
• Testing stopped if liquid spillage occurs
• Adequate lighting arranged before testing
• Safety signage placed where third parties may pass through testing areas

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 5: Fire and burn hazards

Who's at risk: PAT tester

Risk level: Low

Existing controls:

• Recently used hot appliances allowed to cool before testing
• Visual inspection prior to functional check identifies overheating risks
• Testing stopped if appliance shows signs of fire/smoke during functional check
• Fire extinguisher locations identified at testing premises
• Awareness of emergency procedures at each premises

Additional controls:

• Carry small CO2 fire extinguisher in vehicle for serious situations

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 6: Lone working

Who's at risk: PAT tester

Risk level: Medium

Existing controls:

• Daily check-in routine with designated contact
• GPS-enabled phone with location sharing during work
• Awareness of premises layout and emergency exit routes
• Avoidance of high-risk lone working scenarios (working at height, confined spaces)

Additional controls:

• Lone working policy formally documented
• Buddy system for high-risk premises (construction sites)

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 7: Site-specific hazards

Risk varies by site: Construction, healthcare, schools, industrial each have specific considerations

Existing controls:

• Site-specific risk reviews completed before each new site
• Appropriate PPE for site type (high-vis, safety boots, hard hat for construction)
• Site induction completed at construction sites before access
• DBS check completed for school work
• Adherence to client-specific health and safety policies

Additional controls:

• Site-specific competence training for unusual environments

Residual risk level: Low

HAZARD 8: Stress and mental wellbeing

Who's at risk: PAT tester (lone worker, customer-facing)

Risk level: Low to medium

Existing controls:

• Reasonable scheduling avoiding excessive workload
• Awareness of emotional impact of difficult interactions
• Access to support resources

Residual risk level: Low

Templates for your own assessments

Adapt the above structure for your circumstances. Key fields:

• Tester/Company name
• Date of assessment
• Review date
• Premises type and scope
• For each hazard: who's at risk, current risk level, existing controls, additional controls needed, residual risk
• Tester signature: with date

For multi-site contractors, generic risk assessments cover common hazards while site-specific addenda handle unique situations.

Reviewing and updating the assessment

Review controls to check that they remain effective. Reassess when equipment, staff, working methods or the site changes, after relevant incidents or near misses, or when new information shows a weakness.

An annual diary reminder can be useful, but it is not a universal legal minimum or a reason to delay an earlier review.

Common mistakes in PAT testing risk assessments

Generic templates without site-specific consideration

A risk assessment that's the same for every site you work at is unlikely to be genuinely useful. The hazards in a busy commercial kitchen are different from those in a quiet office. Tailor your generic assessment for the specific environment you're entering.

Assessments that assume everything is "low risk"

If every hazard is rated low and no additional controls are needed, the assessment isn't being honest about the situation. Specifically electrical hazards in PAT testing should usually be rated medium at minimum because the consequences of failure are serious.

Forgetting customer-facing risks

The risks aren't just to you — they're to clients and others present during testing. Consider lone working scenarios where the appliance owner isn't present, or third parties moving through your testing area.

Out-of-date assessments

An assessment remains useful only while it reflects the actual work and controls. Review it when circumstances change or there is reason to doubt its effectiveness.

Assessments not communicated to others

If you employ assistants or work in a team, the risk assessment must be communicated to anyone affected by it. A written assessment that nobody else has read is half-useless.

Risk assessments for specific PAT testing scenarios

For an HMO landlord

Cover risks specific to:

• Tenant turnover affecting equipment safety
• Communal area liability
• Specific HMO licence conditions
• Annual compliance reviews

For a school PAT tester

Cover risks specific to:

• DBS clearance and child protection
• School holiday-only access scheduling
• Specialist department equipment
• Coordinating with site staff

For a holiday let testing service

Cover risks specific to:

• Out-of-hours access requirements
• Multiple property scheduling
• Insurance requirements specific to holiday lets
• Booking platform documentation

For a construction site testing service

Cover risks specific to:

• Site induction requirements
• 110V vs 230V testing capability
• Outdoor and weather considerations
• Coordinated testing during operational pauses

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a written risk assessment for PAT testing?

Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings. The duty to assess and control risk still applies below that threshold, and other duties or contracts may require written evidence.

How often should a PAT testing risk assessment be reviewed?

Review it regularly and whenever changes, incidents or other evidence suggest the controls may no longer be effective. There is no universal annual interval that covers every task.

Can I use a generic risk assessment template?

You can start from a template, but it must be tailored to your actual work and premises. A truly generic template that doesn't reflect your circumstances isn't a valid assessment.

Who should sign the risk assessment?

The assessor — typically yourself if you're a sole-trader tester, or the responsible person who carried out the assessment if it's an employer-led assessment. A reviewer or director may also countersign.

Are PAT testing risk assessments accepted as part of the testing certificate?

Generally not — they're separate documents. The PAT testing certificate covers the appliance testing itself; the risk assessment covers the safety of carrying out that testing.

What rating system should I use for risk?

Typically a simple low/medium/high or 1-5 scale based on likelihood and severity. The HSE supports any reasonable system; consistency within your assessments matters more than a specific framework.

Can the risk assessment be electronic?

Yes — electronic risk assessments are entirely acceptable, provided they're complete, accessible to those who need them, and properly maintained.

The takeaway

Identify the hazards that apply to this job, implement suitable controls and keep the assessment under review. The example categories are prompts, not an exhaustive or approved assessment for every workplace.

For most testers, a single written assessment of 5-10 pages covers the standard hazards comprehensively. Site-specific addenda handle unusual situations.

A PAT course can help develop inspection and testing skills. Competence also depends on practical ability, experience, the equipment involved and understanding the results. Successful learners on our classroom course receive a Skills Training Group certificate within one working day. Check the course scope and arrange additional training or specialist assistance for work outside it. See the course details and available locations.