{"id":216,"date":"2012-10-15T14:08:41","date_gmt":"2012-10-15T14:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/?page_id=216"},"modified":"2012-10-15T14:46:58","modified_gmt":"2012-10-15T14:46:58","slug":"all-about-the-formal-visual-inspection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/faqs\/all-about-the-formal-visual-inspection\/","title":{"rendered":"All about the Formal Visual Inspection"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>An essential part of the PAT testing process, figures show that the formal visual inspection is actually responsible for finding around 90% of obvious faults with electrical appliances!<\/p>\n<p>But what is the test, and how to do you go about performing it? It\u2019s a relatively simple process that employees should know, and it can be essential in detecting dangerous faults with appliances in the period between PAT testing.<\/p>\n<p>To make things easier, we\u2019ll walk you through how to do each part of the formal visual inspection in a handy step-by-step guide.<\/p>\n<h2>Checking the Plug<\/h2>\n<p>Plugs are just as important as the appliance itself. If a plug is faulty, it runs the risk of electrical shock, can cause fires and should be in no case be used after faults are found.<\/p>\n<p>If faults are found with the plug then these are must be either replaced or repaired.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Obvious damage \u2013 this is the most common source of faults within plugs. Moving furniture or appliances and leaving the plug dangling to smash into walls can have extreme effects on the casing of the plug, either weakening it or cracking it directly.<\/li>\n<li>Signs of burning or damage to the plug. If there are any of these then replace the plug.<\/li>\n<li>Insulated pins. Although not illegal to have them in use it is recommended that any plug without insulation on the live and neutral pins are removed from service.<\/li>\n<li>Incorrect fuse sizes. Replace any plug fuse that is found to be overrated.<\/li>\n<li>Class 1 appliances \u2013 Must have an earth wire fitted into the plug. Fail any Class 1 appliance that has a two core cable fitted.<\/li>\n<li>Incorrectly wired. Check the plug to make sure that the terminations are correct and that the live, neutral and earth conductors are connected to the correct terminals.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure that the terminations are tight.<\/li>\n<li>Bent pin plugs should never be used. They won\u2019t fit correctly into plug sockets, and the results could be extremely dangerous.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Checking Cables<\/h2>\n<p>First of all, make sure the appliance you are about to test is switched off and unplugged from the mains before carrying out the checks.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your first step is to visually check the entire length of the cable for obvious signs of damage.\u00a0 This allows you to see if the wiring is cut at any point or beginning to fray, and both of these problems should be flagged up immediately as a potential hazard.<\/li>\n<li>If internal wiring of the cable is exposed, you must fail that cable immediately and seek a replacement.<\/li>\n<li>Treat taped cables with great suspicion \u2013 tape is usually hiding a big problem and should be removed and the damage assessed. If it looks damaged, stop using it immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After completing a thorough visual check of the cable, also consider the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Determine whether the position of the cable is safe. If the cable is in a dangerous area that could easily damage it or is a trip hazard, the chances of that cable being damaged increase dramatically. Wherever possible, ensure cables are tidily hidden away and don\u2019t become a risk to anyone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Although this part of the process is called a \u2018visual\u2019 inspection, it\u2019s also important to run your hands across the cable to look for any obvious signs of damage that your eyes might have missed. This often flags up problems that might have gone unnoticed, and is an essential part of carrying out the test. If you are going to do this ensure the appliance is unplugged as you could receive a shock should the cables\u2019 insulation be damaged.<\/p>\n<h2>Check the Appliance Itself<\/h2>\n<p>As part of your visual inspection you must check over the appliance for obvious signs of damage.<\/p>\n<p>Watch out for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cracks \u2013 these can easily lead to bigger problems and expose the appliance to the elements. It could also mean a breakdown in the insulated properties of the electrical circuit.<\/li>\n<li>Chemical damage \u2013 corrosive chemicals can have a disastrous effect on an appliance, so watch out for obvious signs such as chemical burning.<\/li>\n<li>Corrosion \u2013 some appliances may degrade over time, and any corrosion of the appliance itself is a significant hazard to the user.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t obstruct appliance fans \u2013 these are there for a reason and that reason is to cool down the appliance. By blocking the fans, you\u2019re running the risk that the appliance could overheat.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t place towels to dry on top of portable heaters \u2013 they aren\u2019t there for this purpose, and it is a significant fire risk.<\/li>\n<li>Any lamps that are 100W should be fitted with the correct shade. Those without are also a fire risk.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t put water close to an appliance \u2013 water and electricity don\u2019t mix.<\/li>\n<li>Check for obvious signs of overheating \u2013 place appliances relatively far apart from one another, make sure ventilation slots aren\u2019t obscured and remove any overheated items from service immediately<\/li>\n<li>Ensure the casing around the appliance is fastened correctly \u2013 class II appliances in particular run a massive risk of electrical shock if the casing is open, as they rely on the insulated properties of the casing.<\/li>\n<li>Check the appliance has a rating plate \u2013 if it doesn\u2019t, it isn\u2019t legally safe to use and must be removed from active service immediately.<\/li>\n<li>Check the mains cable \u2013 give it a tug and if there\u2019s excess movement, it\u2019s more than likely that the mains cable could come out, which isn\u2019t safe.<\/li>\n<li>Check the on off switch is not damaged and operates correctly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Check the Mains Socket Outlet<\/h2>\n<p>While the mains socket isn\u2019t subjected to a PAT test, it is still eligible for a visual check. The main testing of sockets is done during a fixed wiring test, but this is separate to the PAT test.<\/p>\n<p>Watch out for the following problems with mains sockets:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cracks \u2013 just like anything else that uses electricity, cracks in the casing of mains sockets are extremely dangerous and could cause electrical shocks or fires.<\/li>\n<li>No obvious signs of overheating \u2013 again, make sure that there\u2019s no burn marks on the sockets.<\/li>\n<li>Check that the shutter mechanism over Live and Neutral pin sockets is working correctly.<\/li>\n<li>The socket shouldn\u2019t be loose from where it is installed. Make sure it\u2019s clearly fastened.<\/li>\n<li>The switch on the plug should do what it\u2019s meant to. It shouldn\u2019t be loose, faulty or not work at all.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure there\u2019s a way to turn off appliances in an emergency (usually via an isolation switch).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>RCD (Residual Current Device) Checks<\/h2>\n<p>RCDs will trip if the current flowing through the live is different to that of the current flowing through the neutral conductor. They are generally fitted with a test button.<\/p>\n<p>To check your RCDs, look out for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Damage \u2013 if there\u2019s any obvious defects, you\u2019re going to need a new RCD.<\/li>\n<li>Operating current should be 30mA or less. You may need an electrician to check this for you.<\/li>\n<li>RCDs include a test button. Press it, and if the power is switched off you know your RCD is working correctly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Don\u2019t Neglect To Check the Environment!<\/h2>\n<p>As part of the visual check, you need to take a look at the area where you work and assess how safe it is.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For example, trailing cables all over the floor doesn\u2019t just look untidy; it\u2019s a massive electrical and trip hazard as well.<\/li>\n<li>Similarly, only use appliances where they\u2019re meant to be used. Don\u2019t take a lamp outside in the rain. Don\u2019t pop a microwave in a cupboard and switch it on. Use your common sense and make the environment around you as safe as possible.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t overpopulate everywhere with extension leads. Wherever possible do a reshuffle or your space and move an appliance nearer to a plug.<\/li>\n<li>Never leave appliances on overnight where they are not required!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Formal Visual Inspections may seem like a bit of a chore, but we can\u2019t stress enough how important they are.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure you note down that you\u2019ve completed the visual inspection via a written record for each of the checks that you complete and leave no stone unturned in your office.<\/p>\n<p>Electrical safety and visual inspections ensure you\u2019re taking the necessary steps to promote electrical safety within your working environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An essential part of the PAT testing process, figures show that the formal visual inspection is actually responsible for finding around 90% of obvious faults with electrical appliances! But what is the test, and how to do you go about performing it? It\u2019s a relatively simple process that employees should know, and it can be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":106,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-216","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":228,"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/216\/revisions\/228"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pat-testing-course.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}