The growth of remote and hybrid working has created new challenges for employers trying to maintain electrical safety compliance. When employees use company-supplied equipment at home, the employer's duty of care under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 still applies — regardless of where the work takes place.
Employer Obligations for Home Workers
Employers remain responsible for the safety of any electrical equipment they supply to employees for work use, including equipment used at home. This means company laptops, monitors, docking stations, keyboards, and any other electrical equipment issued by the employer should be included in the PAT testing programme.
Practical Approaches to Home Worker PAT Testing
- Recall equipment to the office periodically for PAT testing during scheduled testing visits
- Schedule engineer visits to employees' homes for testing of larger equipment
- Issue employees with PAT testing inspection guides for basic visual checks
- Implement an equipment loan programme that includes mandatory testing before issue
- Consider user-operated portable appliance inspectors for basic testing in remote locations
Laptops and Battery-Powered Devices
Laptops and tablets that are purely battery-powered and charged via low-voltage DC adapters are not typically subject to PAT testing in the traditional sense. However, the charger or power supply unit that plugs into the mains is a portable electrical appliance and should be included in PAT testing. Chargers are a common failure item and are frequently counterfeit.
Risk Assessment for Home Working Equipment
Conduct a risk assessment for home working equipment as part of your overall health and safety management. Consider the type of equipment issued, the home working environment, the frequency of use, and the likelihood and consequences of a fault. This will help you determine the appropriate testing frequency and approach.
