Pat Testing at Home - What Home Workers Need to Know

Working from home should be as safe as working in the office.

When you work from your company office you are generally surrounded by PAT Tested equipment that your company has sanctioned regular testing of as part of a risk assessment. What if you work from home though as part of your job? Who is responsible for Pat Testing and other risk assessments?

If your company agrees on regular home working, they have  then recognised your home or specific work area as a workplace. This then has the same requirements of the workplace, Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations apply. An inspection will generally be carried out by your employer to satisfy themselves there are no obvious dangers before you can be covered by their insurance.

Any equipment provided for home working by your company should be PAT Tested in accordance with company policy but the company will not be liable for domestic electrical circuits or sockets. Everything that applies in an office environment should apply to a home worker.