Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Hi all.

I am thinking of rolling out a PAT test training course in Poland.
Is this a good idea?

UK, Ireland / Polish Qualified Electricial transferable skills to UK? [9]

Merged:

Electricians in Poland

Guys..
I posted here regarding electrical work in Poland and the state my house was left in after a rewire by a substandard electrician.

So can you advise me if you think that polish electricians should hold an approved qualification like the UK 17th edition wiring regs and be a member of a governing body like the NICIEC.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Spiritus.

Are these people ringing you from the UK or Poland regarding PAT testing.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Lots of good comments and observations. I have no objection to the way Poland does things hence why I have a house there and a polish wife.

I was simply asking the question so I understood myself as though fully clued up on electrical safety in the UK I thought it polite to ask about the electrical safety in Poland and the culture of doing things.

So this is what I have seen and actually been told by tradesmen working on my house.

1. We don't test 240v or 110v handheld tools or anything else. We throw them away after they start smoking or someone gets a tickle (electric shock)

2. Electrical safety in the UK is overboard and could never be implemented in Poland as it would cost businesses and homeowners money.

3. Sockets in the bathroom are fine if you fit an extractor to get rid of the condensation and wear flip flops.

4. The electrician wired up our house and broke his hip as he electrocuted himself whilst working with live cables outdoors . He forgot which one of the cables was live and unfortunately picked up the wrong one with his hand.

5. We have started fitting residual current devices into distribution boards but cannot guarantee they will operate under an earth leakage fault.

6. The best one yet though. The electrical cannot attend to later this evening as he is having a few tyskie with friends ....He has left instructions with the plasterer to connect the shower as they often swap roles.

None of that above is made up.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Omg.
So you are giggling at people being electrocuted or electrical wIrIng systems having the potential to seriously injure people especially children.
I think it is acceptable to say that children do not have the sense to understand the dangers of things that could injure them. Hence why parents educate them.

I would though rather remove the risk of electrocution from unsafe wiring than have to rely on telling someone its unsafe.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Also bear in mind Spiritus, electrical testing such as Pat testing needn't cost a fortune. Forget the stupid prices, nominate and in house tester, buy a test machine for a few hundred quid and train them to be competent in inspection and testing.

It saves a lot of hassle in court.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Hi spiritus.

I totally agree with you, PAT testing is not a legal requirement in the UK.
Unfortunately under the HSAWA, there is the Electricity at Work act and the PUWER regs which state that electrical equipment must be maintained to show that it is safe to use.

PAT testing meets both these requirements as it shows that a company is legally ensuring the safety of its employee's.
If in doubt, ask the HSAWA, they have a clear code of practise for electrical safety. So PAT testing is not law, but electrical safety policy is, unfortunately mains powered equipment comes under Electricity at work act and the PUWER regs.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

John

I had to smile with your answer ..No water in the wash basin whilst using electrical equipment.
Kids unfortunately do not have common sense no matter how much you educate them. Hence the words kids.
Often kids are curious about seeing consequence s.

As I have a house in the UK and Poland I was curious as to why there was a real difference in electrical wiring and location of sockets.

I think as a senior electrical engineer, standard polish electrical sockets are dangerous in a bathroom location. I may be wrong though.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Jeez.
Maybe I should just rewire the house to UK 17th Edition Wiring Regulations Standards. At least then it would be safe.
I cannot blame the Polish electricians for there work if they have no standards to follow that are universal to all.
At least I got copper wiring, not aluminium.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

My bathroom sockets don't even have shutters on the live or neutral. It is feasible that my small children could poke something conductor into the live opening of the socket whilst touching the pedestal tap and bingo....electric shock which could be fatal due to shock path across the chest. Making matters worse the current flow would be high as I would imagine the bathroom floor could be nice and wet.

Plugging shavers into straight 240v sockets in bathrooms is just ludicrous and an accident waiting to happen with potential dire consequences.

Why are these sockets not fed by a Low Voltage double wound isolating transformers which is supplied via an appropriate FCU ( fused connection unit ) that is fused at 3amps.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Do you think that polish electricians should be educated and monitored by exams or a governing body in electrical safety. Here in the UK we have standards from the electricity at work act, to the 17th edition wiring regs.

I have just purchased a house in Poland and was puzzled by the electrical installation, it seemed to be dangerous using neutral as earth. I was told in was the norm.

When I questioned this, the electrician said it saves money on wiring.
As a senior electrical engineer and a lecturer on the subject I found it hard to believe that it saves on wiring costs.
Secondly why are hand tools or electrical items not routinely tested that are used by persons. Examples of this are electric drIlls, kettles etc in hotel rooms, equipment used by children or the elderly.

Work / PAT testing electrical equipment in Poland [51]

Are you saying electrical work is not to the best of standards?