I'm setting up a PAT Testing business.......ideas needed

[B.O.S.]

I'm setting up a PAT Testing business and would love to know if anyone has marketing ideas for such an operation. I know its not the most exhilarating business in the world but as we know, there IS a legal requirement to have this done....

Ian

 

[mr magoo]

Hi I would love to hear more?
owen

 

[David Griffiths]

d but as we know, there IS a legal requirement to have this done....

Ian

Oh no there isn't.

It's a myth, often perpetuated by people who stand to gain by conning business owners that it is a legal requirement. Every PAT testing company that's cold called my office has claimed that it's a legal requirement, and I bet that they don't stop when I point out exactly where it says that it isn't.

 

I'm setting up a PAT Testing business and would love to know if anyone has marketing ideas for such an operation. I know its not the most exhilarating business in the world but as we know, there IS a legal requirement to have this done....

Ian

Bin there. Got the tshirt.
Set up one of the biggest pat businesses in the NW before selling out.
Big offices/colleges are the lucrative business..

And it is easy....

1/ You get on the phone and systematically ring offices, and colleges...
excuse me can you tell me who is responsible for safety testing please...and when your contract comes up for renewal??

2/ Build database of when all the contracts come up -some will require you go thru a process of verification so have a quality policy, safety policy (try to avoid killing their staff if at all possible) , environmental policy, equal opportunity policy. All total boll*x but necessary, so have them to hand.

Start with big offices- tens of employees- small colleges tens of employees
because that can get you into the really big places which you can make serious money.
About 1 in 10 will say...yes we are well overdue..you have reminded us..

Avoid factories...nightmare....and hospitals.

It will take you three years to get a comprehensive database of your area -that is how long the contracts are, and it willt ake you that long to get the 3 years accounts you need for real public contracts...

Volunteer to work out of hours....(a) it is far more efficient and (b) you steal a march on competition who wont. testing 24/7
If you are qualified to do it, offering fixed appliance testing can help your cred.

Can pm rates to charge , but wont put those on a public forum.

 

Oh no there isn't.

It's a myth, often perpetuated by people who stand to gain by conning business owners that it is a legal requirement. Every PAT testing company that's cold called my office has claimed that it's a legal requirement, and I bet that they don't stop when I point out exactly where it says that it isn't.

You have missed the point david.

You have a duty to maintain equipment in a safe condition.
nothing happens until you hurt somebody, at which point the code of practise will be used as a standard to judge whether you were acting to do what is "reasonably practicable to safeguard etc etc etc...

And if you manage to hurt somebody, with or without electricity, they will throw the book at you if they find anything dangerous on the premises - with criminal not civil charges... or if your fire equipment does not have certificates etc etc etc. They wont just stop with how the person got hurt...they wiill look for every breach they can find.

The point is, by doing these things, it is then on somebody elses insurance if there is a screw up. It is a form of insurance you are buying.

My advice.... look at your extension leads frequently!!...and anything with a long trailing lead like a vac. ...chances are the rest is OK. Till they day it isnt that is.

 

[David Griffiths]

You have missed the point david.

.

Sorry, but I don't think that I've missed the point at all. Of course there is an obligation placed on me as an employer to ensue the H&S of people working for me and visitors to the office. I fully accept that and believe that I do everything necessary to meet that obligation, whether it be electrical safety or tripping hazards, which are probably the two biggest issues in an office environment.

However, there is categorically not a legal obligation to have all equipment tested every year by a qualified electrician. The Health & Safety Executive is quite clear on this, using it as their Myth of the Month in July 2007.

That hasn't stopped a number of PAT testing companies cold calling me, and claiming that it is an absolute requirement.

The above link has a useful pamphlet to download, and we follow the advice given in that. The recommendation for computers and IT equipment is visual inspection every 2-4 year, not professional inspection annually.

It just doesn't suit some people to admit that.

 

Sorry, but I don't think that I've missed the point at all. Of course there is an obligation placed on me as an employer to ensue the H&S of people working for me and visitors to the office. I fully accept that and believe that I do everything necessary to meet that obligation, whether it be electrical safety or tripping hazards, which are probably the two biggest issues in an office environment.

However, there is categorically not a legal obligation to have all equipment tested every year by a qualified electrician. The Health & Safety Executive is quite clear on this, using it as their Myth of the Month in July 2007.

That hasn't stopped a number of PAT testing companies cold calling me, and claiming that it is an absolute requirement.

The above link has a useful pamphlet to download, and we follow the advice given in that. The recommendation for computers and IT equipment is visual inspection every 2-4 year, not professional inspection annually.

It just doesn't suit some people to admit that.

The two key words are "Most" and "every year" - which is true. Which begs the question of which, and when.... and clearly in converse says some of it does - so you are missing hte point.

The actual legal framework- you have a problem - prior to 74 if you followed the code in the factories acts you were safe , regardless of how lacking in common sense you were.

so it got replaced by
(A) The general duty to do "all that is reasonably practicable" under haswa, anc clearly if you do nothing at all you are in breach of that.
(B) A requirement to conduct a risk assessment under the management regs- which in this case determines frequencies and times -
(C) To comply with specific requirements as laid down in the electricity at work act.

since 74 you have to do all that is REASONABLY PRACTICABLE and so you have a judgement you or a qualiiffied party has to make -

So how , are you supposed to do (B)? - what is the risk? how does it change with time and equipment.

That is laid down in the IEE COP which whilst not law in itself, is the standard by which you will be judged if push comes to shove, and that DEFINITELY prescribes testing - with frequencies and types laid down according to type of equipment AND lOCATION - so if you test nothing you would almost certainly be judged to be in breach of the law if ridor came into play.

If you EVER bring outsiders into the office the risk categorry increases - and area of public access higher still - so it is not just about the equipment ,or the fact of an office - it is also about who comes in contact

The COP is not law, and is only the standard by which you will be judged.... but you are a brave man, and arrogant too - if you choose to ignore the advice of experts laid down therre. What most companies do is push the insurance risk onto someone esle.

So it is true, most equipment does not need testing every year - that is not all equipment - and indeed most professional pat companies dont test everything in an office every year.....they test to the COP - which although not law, might as well be -


that then brings us back to "practicability" - depending on a number of factors, - it can be faster and therefore cheaper - and therefore certainlyu more practicable to test everything , than prat about with records to try to identify what does need testing on the basis of historic record ......it depends....

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

B.O.S,

what area/region will you operate?

 

[David Griffiths]

We are wandering off the point here.

It is not a legal requirement to have all appliances tested every year by a professional electician. Every PAT testing firm that has cold called my office has told me that it is.

What the exact regulations are is not relevant to my point.

Edit: It would actually be a good marketing point for these companies to be straight, say that it's not necessary and offer to draw up a planned maintenance schedule. That really would set them apart.

 

Edit: It would actually be a good marketing point for these companies to be straight, say that it's not necessary and offer to draw up a planned maintenance schedule. That really would set them apart.

It would not , in the sense that the professional companies will ALL tell you they test to the code of practise - which is how you recognise them - so it is not in that sense a USP - sounds like you have been contacted by cowboys, if they say everything every year.

There are all sorts of regimes , depending.on situation eg
All class 1 inspected every year, tested every 2.
Class 2 test and inspect every 4.

still wont save you if somebody kills themselves on a dodgy extension lead or vacuum lead......

 

[KM-Tiger]

Edit: It would actually be a good marketing point for these companies to be straight, say that it's not necessary and offer to draw up a planned maintenance schedule. That really would set them apart.

Having been the client of a number of PAT testing companies, I must agree.

The other thing that would set you apart is an effective way of dealing with the failures, either repair them there and then or give the business the opportunity to repair and re-test straight away. What the business owner wants is to have a clean bill of health at the end of your visit, not a list of problems to deal with.

 

Having been the client of a number of PAT testing companies, I must agree.

The other thing that would set you apart is an effective way of dealing with the failures, either repair them there and then or give the business the opportunity to repair and re-test straight away. What the business owner wants is to have a clean bill of health at the end of your visit, not a list of problems to deal with.

wow you do deal with a bunch of cowboys - reputable pat businesses, not only do that, but many include simple repair in the price - eg fuses/ remaking connections - i did, and so did my real competitors.

 

[kate1]

Hi, OP, get on the phone, I used to do this for a company, its high volume calling but very straightforward - price is the key factor in this.

 

[B.O.S.]

I havent been here for a while , I now idea that I had so my responses....Thanks guys
Ian