PAT Testing Hired Equipment: Who Is Responsible?

Hired electrical equipment can cause confusion when it comes to PAT testing. If the equipment belongs to the hire company, does the hire company remain responsible for its electrical safety, or does responsibility pass to the person or business hiring the equipment?

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In simple terms, the hire company should supply equipment that is safe when it is issued, but the person hiring the equipment also has a responsibility to make sure it remains safe while it is in their use. This is particularly important where equipment is hired for more than a short period, used in a harsh environment, or made available to employees, contractors or members of the public.


Does hired equipment need PAT testing?

Hired electrical equipment should be checked to make sure it is safe to use. However, this does not always mean that the person hiring the equipment must immediately carry out a full PAT test.

For short-term hire, the equipment should normally have been inspected and tested by the hire company before it was supplied. The hirer should still carry out basic checks before use, such as checking the plug, cable, casing, controls and general condition of the equipment. If there are signs of damage, overheating, loose parts, exposed conductors or other defects, the equipment should not be used.

For longer-term hire, the equipment may need to be included in the hirer’s normal inspection and testing regime. This should be based on the type of equipment, where it is used, who uses it, how often it is moved, and the level of risk involved.

What should the hire company do?

The hire company should provide equipment that is safe when it is hired out. HSE guidance strongly recommends that equipment suppliers formally inspect and test electrical equipment before each hire to help ensure it is safe to use.

The hire industry also has its own guidance document, published by Hire Association Europe and the Event Hire Association, called Guidance on Electrical Safety Testing in the Hire Industry. This is aimed specifically at the hire industry and covers the inspection and testing of electrical equipment supplied for hire.

This means that commercial hire companies should not simply rely on an old PAT test label. Equipment used for hire can be subject to rough handling, transport, outdoor use, construction-site use and frequent connection and disconnection. It should be checked before it is supplied to the next customer.

What is the hirer responsible for?

Once equipment is on hire, the person or organisation hiring it is responsible for using it safely and taking appropriate steps to make sure it remains safe during the hire period.

For a short hire period, this may simply involve carrying out user checks before use and reporting any damage or faults to the hire company. For example, if a hired drill, pressure washer, floor cleaner or extension lead is damaged during use, it should be taken out of service and the hire company contacted.

For longer hire periods, the hirer may need to treat the equipment in the same way as their own electrical equipment. This means it may need to be added to an equipment register and included in the normal inspection and testing programme.

Short-term hire and user checks

Equipment hired for a short period may only need a user check before use, provided it has been supplied in a safe condition by the hire company and is being used in a suitable environment.

A user check should include looking for obvious signs of damage or misuse. This may include:

  • damage to the plug or connector
  • damage to the flexible cable
  • loose parts or cracked casing
  • signs of overheating or burning
  • exposed conductors
  • missing guards or covers
  • evidence that the equipment has been wet, contaminated or misused

If any defect is found, the equipment should not be used. It should be reported to the hire company and replaced or assessed by a competent person. You can read more about these simple pre-use inspections in our guide to user checks for electrical equipment.

Long-term hire and equipment registers

Where equipment is hired for more than a short period, it may need to be included in the organisation’s normal inspection and testing arrangements. This is especially important if the equipment is used by employees, left on site, used by different people, or used in an environment where damage is likely.

Examples of equipment that may be on long-term hire or rental include photocopiers, vending machines, franking machines, water coolers, coffee machines, temporary heaters, floor-cleaning machines and office equipment.

In these cases, the hirer should decide whether the equipment should be added to the equipment register and included in the inspection and testing regime. The decision should be based on risk, not just ownership. If the equipment is being used as part of your workplace, you still need a system for ensuring it remains safe. Our article on PAT testing frequency and risk assessment explains how inspection and testing intervals should be decided.

What about flash testing hired equipment?

The hire industry guidance includes information on dielectric strength testing, also known as flash or hi-pot testing. This is one of the differences between routine PAT testing and some hire-industry electrical safety testing procedures.

Flash testing is not normally part of standard PAT testing. It is a high-voltage test and should only be carried out where appropriate by someone who understands the equipment, the test method and the risk of damage. For most people hiring electrical equipment, flash testing is not something they would normally carry out themselves.

You can read more about this in our article on flash testing and PAT testing.

Do not rely only on a PAT test label

A PAT test label can provide useful information, but it should not be treated as proof that equipment is still safe. Hired equipment may be damaged after it has been tested, particularly if it is transported, used outdoors, used on a construction site, or handled by several different users.

The condition of the equipment at the time of use is what matters. Even if the equipment has a recent test label, it should still be checked before use. If it appears damaged or unsafe, it should not be used.

Summary

The hire company should supply electrical equipment that is safe to use and should normally inspect and test it before hire. Once the equipment is on hire, the person or organisation hiring it must also take appropriate steps to make sure it remains safe during use.

For short-term hire, this may only require a user check before use. For longer-term hire, the equipment may need to be added to the hirer’s equipment register and included in the normal inspection and testing programme.

The important point is that responsibility is not based only on who owns the equipment. If hired equipment is being used in your workplace, by your employees, or as part of your activities, you need a suitable system to make sure it remains safe.

If you are unsure how to inspect and test electrical equipment, our practical PAT testing courses explain how to carry out user checks, formal visual inspections and the appropriate electrical tests for different types of equipment.