Do you have a burning issue you'd like to discuss on Voltimum and to your industry peers? Get it off your chest and give us an email. This month's letter is from Kingsmead Testing Services Director, Grant Foster.
When I started out in the PAT testing industry nearly ten years ago, I soon found out how being paid in terms of price per item became a competition I didn’t really want to play. Several engineers working on one site meant an unhealthy competitive spirit developed in the working environment, as they strove to find the easy tests and therefore make more easy money. Proper visual inspections were not carried out on appliances and faults such as snags in cables were left under desks, as the “sticker it up” brigade marched unceasingly toward the financial goalpost they had set themselves for that week.
How nothing has changed in those ten years. It is even worse now, with the larger companies offering ridiculously low unit prices for so called “testing.” I see it with my own eyes as evidence of bad testing consistently shows itself. And it’s easy to spot, believe me. It may be a cover screw sticker on a plug top that’s obviously never been undone, or a 13 amp fuse in a desk fan, but it’s evident.
How low does the price have to go before people start noticing that actually, how can an engineer do 300 tests in a day and do a proper job? The most sophisticated equipment in the industry does not carry out a visual check. This continual price cutting does nothing to serve the industry well, clients may think they are getting a good deal but it could be the end of quality workmanship as we know it, and one day, somebody will die because the PAT testing company ignored the basic rules of inspection. A bit of paper doesn’t mean you’re safe.
Where is the PAT testing industry watchdog? The main bodies know cheating goes on but can’t seem to do anything. Large PAT companies may pat themselves on the back (forgive the pun) in the industry magazines when they announce a new deal with a blue chip company, but so what – is a good job being done and IS THE CLIENT SAFE?
Sad but true, this is how life is in the PAT testing world but who is taking notice? To the companies out there who still aspire to quality, affordable cost, good workmanship, and SAFETY – I salute you.
Grant Foster
Director
Kingsmead Testing Services Ltd.
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