Staff-Owned Electrical Equipment at Work: Should It Be Included in PAT Testing?

Staff-Owned Electrical Equipment at Work: Should It Be Included in PAT Testing?

In many small businesses, not every electrical item on site was bought by the business.

Staff may bring in phone chargers, laptop chargers, desk lamps, radios, fans, heaters or other small plug-in items. Some may only be used occasionally, while others become part of the normal working day.

That can create a grey area. If the business did not buy the item, who is responsible for making sure it is safe to use at work?

Relevant for: small businesses, offices, shops, salons, clinics, studios, staff rooms, customer-facing workplaces, business owners, managers and anyone responsible for workplace appliance safety.

If it is used at work, it should not be ignored

A staff-owned item is not automatically the same as a business-owned appliance, but if it is being used in the workplace, it still matters.

The business has a responsibility to manage electrical safety sensibly. That means the equipment being used on site should not be left completely unchecked simply because it belongs to a member of staff.

A phone charger under a desk, a fan beside a treatment chair, or a small heater in a back office can all become part of the working environment. If those items are damaged, unsuitable or used in the wrong place, they can create avoidable problems.

Small businesses need a clear approach

The simplest way to manage staff-owned electrical items is to have a clear approach before they become an issue.

Some businesses may decide that staff should not bring in personal electrical appliances unless they have been approved. Others may allow certain low-risk items, such as chargers, but not higher-risk items such as portable heaters. Some may choose to include staff-owned items in the PAT testing visit if they are regularly used on site.

The exact approach will depend on the workplace, the equipment and how it is used. What matters is that the business has thought about it and is not relying on guesswork.

The common items that appear in workplaces

Staff-owned electrical items are usually ordinary everyday things. That is why they are easy to overlook.

Phone chargers, laptop power supplies, desk lamps, radios, fans, heaters, small kitchen appliances and extension leads can all appear in a workplace over time. Some are brought in for convenience. Others are brought in because staff feel they need them to do the job comfortably.

The issue is not that every personal item is automatically a problem. The issue is that electrical equipment used in the workplace should be managed in a sensible and consistent way.

Portable heaters need particular care

Portable heaters are one of the items small businesses should be especially careful about.

They may be brought in during colder months, used under desks, placed near furniture, or plugged into unsuitable extension leads. Even when a heater appears to work normally, it may not be suitable for the environment or the way it is being used.

If a business allows portable heaters on site, it should be clear who has approved them, where they can be used, and whether they should be included in the normal PAT testing routine.

Chargers are easy to forget

Chargers are another common example. They are small, cheap and often moved around the premises, which makes them easy to ignore.

A charger may belong to a member of staff, but if it is being used regularly at work, especially around desks, counters, treatment rooms or staff areas, it should not be treated as invisible.

Businesses do not need to overcomplicate this, but they should have a sensible rule for what is allowed, what should be removed, and what should be checked if it is being used on site.

Annual PAT testing can reduce uncertainty

One of the reasons annual PAT testing works well for small businesses is that it creates a regular point where electrical appliances can be reviewed.

The business-owned equipment can be checked, the staff room items can be included, and any staff-owned items that are regularly used on site can be dealt with in a consistent way if the business chooses to include them.

That is often simpler than trying to manage informal decisions throughout the year. A regular visit gives the business a clearer record and helps avoid uncertainty over what is being used in the workplace.

It is also a good time to tidy the records

Electrical equipment changes over time. Items are bought, replaced, moved, borrowed or brought in by staff. Without a routine, it can be difficult to keep the records accurate.

A PAT testing visit gives the business a chance to update the report, remove items that are no longer used, and add equipment that has become part of the workplace.

This ties in with our guide Why Small Businesses Should Keep an Appliance List, which explains why clear records can make future visits easier.

Staff should know what is allowed

A simple workplace rule can make a big difference.

Staff should know whether they are allowed to bring in personal electrical items, who needs to approve them, and what should happen if an item looks damaged or unsuitable.

This does not need to be complicated. For many small businesses, it can be as simple as saying that personal electrical items should not be used at work unless the owner or manager has approved them, and that regularly used items may be included in the PAT testing routine.

Thorn PAT Testing’s approach

Thorn PAT Testing provides local PAT testing for small businesses, landlords and workplaces across Glasgow, Bearsden, Milngavie and East Dunbartonshire.

For small businesses, the service can help check everyday workplace appliances, staff room equipment and other electrical items used on site. Where staff-owned equipment is regularly used in the workplace, it can be discussed and included where appropriate.

An annual PAT testing routine is a simple, affordable way to keep appliance checks and records clearer without creating more admin than necessary.

Need PAT testing for your workplace?

If you are unsure what electrical items should be included, Thorn PAT Testing can help check the everyday equipment used across your premises and provide a clear digital report for your records.

You can view the main PAT testing service information, check current pricing, or request an instant quote online.

Request an Instant Quote