What is HSG107?
HSG107 is the Health and Safety Executive's definitive guidance on maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment in the workplace. This document provides a risk-based approach to ensuring that electrical appliances and equipment remain safe throughout their operational life, from initial purchase through to disposal.
The guidance addresses a common area of confusion in workplace safety - the maintenance of portable electrical equipment, often referred to as PAT (Portable Appliance Testing). HSG107 clarifies that there is no legal requirement for annual testing of all portable equipment, instead advocating for a proportionate approach based on the type of equipment, its use, and the environment in which it operates.
HSG107 covers the full spectrum of portable electrical equipment found in workplaces, from low-risk items like desk lamps in offices to high-risk equipment such as power tools on construction sites. The guidance helps duty holders understand their responsibilities and implement maintenance regimes that are both effective and proportionate to the risks involved.
This document is essential reading for anyone responsible for electrical equipment in the workplace, providing the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about inspection and testing frequencies, competency requirements, and record-keeping practices.
Who Needs This Document?
Primary Audiences
Facilities and Maintenance Managers are often responsible for the maintenance of portable electrical equipment across their organisations. HSG107 provides the framework for establishing appropriate inspection and testing regimes that meet legal requirements without unnecessary expense.
Small and Medium Enterprise Owners frequently have direct responsibility for workplace safety, including electrical equipment. This guidance helps them understand what is genuinely required and how to implement a proportionate approach.
Health and Safety Professionals use HSG107 to develop policies and procedures for portable equipment maintenance, ensuring their organisations meet legal duties while avoiding excessive or unnecessary testing.
Electrical Contractors and PAT Testing Providers should be thoroughly familiar with HSG107 to ensure the services they provide align with HSE guidance and genuinely serve their clients' safety needs.
Secondary Audiences
Property Managers responsible for commercial lettings or managed workspaces need to understand their obligations regarding electrical equipment provided to tenants or available in shared spaces.
Landlords with responsibilities for electrical safety in rented properties can apply the principles of HSG107 to equipment they provide to tenants.
Office Managers and Administrators often coordinate PAT testing activities and need to understand what is required to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place.
Key Topics Covered
Understanding the Risks
HSG107 begins by explaining how portable electrical equipment can become dangerous. The primary hazards include:
- Electric shock from contact with live parts exposed by damage or deterioration
- Fire caused by overheating due to faults or misuse
- Burns from hot surfaces or arcing
- Secondary injuries from electric shock (falls, impacts)
The guidance explains that the level of risk depends on multiple factors including the type of equipment, the environment in which it is used, and how frequently it is used and moved.
Types of Electrical Equipment
The document categorises electrical equipment by construction class and risk level:
Class I Equipment has basic insulation and relies on an earth connection for safety. Examples include kettles, toasters, and many power tools. This equipment requires earth continuity testing.
Class II Equipment (double-insulated) has reinforced insulation and does not require an earth connection. Examples include many modern power tools and IT equipment. Earth continuity testing is not applicable.
Class III Equipment operates at separated extra-low voltage (SELV) and presents minimal shock risk. Examples include laptop power supplies and phone chargers.
Understanding equipment classification is essential for determining appropriate testing requirements.
User Checks
HSG107 emphasises that user checks are the most important element of a portable equipment maintenance regime. Before each use, equipment users should check for:
- Damage to the cable, plug, or equipment casing
- Signs of overheating, burning, or discolouration
- Loose parts or missing covers
- Equipment used in unsuitable conditions (wet environments, etc.)
- Signs of unauthorised repair or modification
User checks catch most defects that could cause harm and should be embedded into workplace culture through training and awareness.
Formal Visual Inspections
More detailed visual inspections should be carried out periodically by a competent person. These inspections include:
- Checking the plug is correctly wired (for rewirable plugs)
- Inspecting the cable entry to plug and equipment
- Examining the cable along its full length
- Checking the equipment casing for damage
- Verifying the correct fuse rating
- Looking for signs of overheating or contamination
Visual inspections can identify the majority of faults that develop in portable equipment and are far more important than electrical testing alone.
Combined Inspection and Testing
Electrical testing (often called PAT testing) involves using specialised test equipment to measure:
- Earth continuity for Class I equipment
- Insulation resistance
- Earth leakage current (for some equipment)
- Functional operation
HSG107 is clear that testing should supplement, not replace, visual inspection. A piece of equipment can pass electrical tests while having visible damage that makes it unsafe.
Determining Inspection and Testing Frequencies
One of the most valuable aspects of HSG107 is its guidance on appropriate inspection and testing frequencies. The document provides suggested intervals based on:
- Equipment type (IT equipment, portable appliances, hand-held tools, etc.)
- Environment (office, industrial, construction site, etc.)
- Frequency of use
- Equipment age and condition
For low-risk environments like offices, initial inspection frequencies might be several years for IT equipment, with formal testing potentially unnecessary if visual inspections reveal no issues. For high-risk environments like construction sites, much more frequent inspection and testing is appropriate.
Competence Requirements
HSG107 defines competence requirements for different maintenance activities:
- User checks require awareness training but no technical qualification
- Visual inspections require greater knowledge of electrical equipment and potential faults
- Combined inspection and testing requires understanding of test equipment and interpretation of results
The document emphasises that competence is about having the necessary skills and knowledge, not necessarily formal qualifications.
Record Keeping
While there is no legal requirement to keep records of portable equipment maintenance, HSG107 recommends maintaining records as evidence of a systematic approach. Records should include:
- Equipment identification (asset number or description)
- Date of inspection/test
- Outcome (pass, fail, or observations)
- Name of person carrying out the inspection/test
- Date of next scheduled inspection/test
Using This Guidance
Step 1: Create an Equipment Inventory
Identify all portable electrical equipment in your workplace. This provides the basis for your maintenance regime and helps identify any equipment that should not be in use.
Step 2: Assess the Risks
Consider the type of equipment, its use, and the environment. A kettle in an office kitchen presents different risks than a power drill on a construction site. Use the risk assessment to inform your maintenance approach.
Step 3: Establish User Check Procedures
Train all equipment users to carry out basic checks before use. Create a simple system for reporting defects and removing faulty equipment from service. This is the most important element of your maintenance regime.
Step 4: Determine Inspection and Testing Frequencies
Using the guidance in HSG107, establish appropriate intervals for formal visual inspections and combined inspection and testing. Remember that these are suggested starting points - you should adjust based on your experience and the results of inspections.
Step 5: Implement a Competent Inspection Programme
Ensure that formal inspections and testing are carried out by competent persons. This might be in-house staff with appropriate training or external contractors. Verify that those carrying out the work understand HSG107 principles.
Step 6: Maintain Records
Keep records of inspections and tests, and use these to identify trends. If particular items or types of equipment frequently fail, consider why and whether additional measures are needed.
Step 7: Review and Adjust
Regularly review your maintenance regime. If inspections consistently find no faults, intervals might be extended. If faults are frequently found, more frequent inspection may be warranted.
Why It Matters
Legal Compliance
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that electrical equipment is maintained to prevent danger. HSG107 provides the practical guidance for meeting this duty. Employers must be able to demonstrate that their maintenance arrangements are suitable and sufficient.
Preventing Electrical Accidents
Faulty portable electrical equipment causes workplace injuries and fires every year. A proper maintenance regime, as outlined in HSG107, significantly reduces these risks by identifying and removing dangerous equipment before it causes harm.
Avoiding Unnecessary Expense
HSG107 helps organisations avoid the expense of excessive testing. By adopting a risk-based approach, businesses can focus resources where they are most needed rather than paying for unnecessary annual testing of low-risk equipment.
Demonstrating Due Diligence
Following HSG107 guidance provides evidence of a systematic approach to electrical equipment safety. This is valuable for defending against claims, satisfying insurance requirements, and demonstrating compliance during inspections.
Professional Credibility
For businesses providing PAT testing services, alignment with HSG107 demonstrates professional competence. Clients increasingly expect providers to offer risk-based advice rather than simply testing everything annually regardless of risk.
Sustainable Safety Management
HSG107's approach creates a sustainable safety management system that focuses effort where it matters most. This is more effective and more likely to be maintained over time than an approach based on arbitrary testing intervals.