PAT test failed because keys were missing!

[Zourous]

Has anyone come across this? New PAT testers came this summer and they agreed to PAT test the chargers as normal and then visually check the laptops. They then put failed stickers on laptops with missing keys which I wasn't too happy about. In my 17 years working as a technician I've never seen this from a PAT tester and assumed PAT test means checking electrical safety. He said it failed because it isn't the same condition as it was when it came out the original box. I also assume with a failed sticker on it, it is telling the user not to use the laptop because it is unsafe. Can of worms now open...

[bald_pig]

Would it fail if it had a PAT test sticker on it? It wasn't included in the box after all.

 

Ask the tester to demonstrate how the missing key makes the device electrically unsafe.

[bald_pig]

Furthermore, pretty sure the PAT test is for mains rated devices, so the charger and not the laptop itself?

[paulkerton]

The only reason a keyboard on a laptop should fail a PAT test is if there is something electrical visually exposed as part of the damage. If you've got a plastic membrane in that situation then there is absolutely no reason to fail it. It's an electrical test, so the condition of the device should only matter if it makes it electrically unsafe.

 

All laptops get visual checks only, as do the chargers up to the power brick. The only part that needs Class 1 testing is the plug cable part.

[3s-gtech]

I've never seen laptops themselves being tested, only chargers. They're not running at mains voltage, and shouldn't come under the inspection (you could give them the chargers in a big box). I can see the point about the condition, but AFAIK that has no bearing on a PAT test.

[localzuk]

Never had laptops themselves tested here. Only chargers.

[slugshead]

"look mister head master sir, all these laptops failed the electrical testing. Our students use laptops extensively for their studies, due to the failure can I have some money to replace them, thanks"

[LeMarchand]

Has anyone come across this? New PAT testers came this summer and they agreed to PAT test the chargers as normal and then visually check the laptops. They then put failed stickers on laptops with missing keys which I wasn't too happy about.

 

We used to have a tester who tried that one on.

[hardtailstar]

Most of ours would fail then!

 

We tend to just replace keywords in holidays as during term time they just get pulled off.

[smurfomatic]

We used to have a tester who tried that one on.

 

A man tried to test me once...

 

 

On topic - agree with the above, laptop should not fail PAT because of missing keys as it's not an electrical issue

[Jcx500]

I've had a fare few fail due to missing keys. I've tried to argue it but they deem it a safety hazard. So i just check the keys beforehand these days

[3s-gtech]

Again, I can see that - but that’s not what they’re testing. The laptop is a Class 3 device, and does not need to be tested (the charger does). You can basically tell the testers not to touch them - remember that PAT tests are not an arbitrary authority on general safety.

 

Replacing the keyboards is still a good idea, as they’ll get worse and worse. You can often replace half of those needed, then use keys and scissors from the donors to repair the others.

[Jobos]

Used to have PAT testers who basically went round sticking labels on things because they charged per item so anything and everything got 'tested'. We soon got rid of them.

[synaesthesia]

Why are testers still using the term PAT? It's no longer applicable - or is it just being used as a name now due to familiarity? There's no such thing as a PAT any more, and anyone carrying out such a test is surely doing so under false pretense?

[paulkerton]

Why are testers still using the term PAT? It's no longer applicable - or is it just being used as a name now due to familiarity? There's no such thing as a PAT any more, and anyone carrying out such a test is surely doing so under false pretense?

 

We still call it GDPR when its now DPA 2018... Short hand

[mikeprice]

If there are metal bits sticking up that used to hold the keys in place then they could be sharp - hence the failed sticker

 

In other words they are saying their job involves doing a general H&S assessment - which - I think - is not what they are supposed to be doing

 

On the subject of testers just testing everything - NM in one school I worked in told me about one PAT tested that he found happily testing a black bag full of power cables

the EU power cables that come with everything were just chucked in this bag and then sent for recyling when the bag was full - and he had found it and was testing every damn one

 

they charged per item!!

 

So - I would check their contract - they may get paid per item and an extra for finding stuff that fails - which would explain the over zealous behaviour!

[DrBeaker]

Better than the ones who go round testing stuff and only when you've been in a classroom found they've failed something and nobody bothered to tell IT about it.

 

Or the ones were stuff was failed, removed and again nobody told IT - as it was a VGA splitter PSU which affected lessons, that was the first we'd heard about it

 

Or the ones where the plastic plug 'passed' yet attempting to remove it from the wall socket the plastic had become so brittle and fragile with age, it just fell apart exposing the circuitry? How on earth did that get passed?

 

Why is IT always the last to know lol?

[Andrew_C]

Sticker Monkeys.

 

MrsC reported that a hot wire bender in DT passed, without a fuse carrier, and a hole where it should be, WITH A NOTE ON IT saying 'awaiting repair'.

 

Same monkeys failed a perfectly good soldering iron; suppose that they felt the need to fail something so it didn't look like they were just slapping stickers on everything.

[localzuk]

Why are testers still using the term PAT? It's no longer applicable - or is it just being used as a name now due to familiarity? There's no such thing as a PAT any more, and anyone carrying out such a test is surely doing so under false pretense?

Huh? The HSE still uses the term "Portable Appliance Testing", so PAT still is very much in use?

[synaesthesia]

The name is yes, as I said. It's no longer "Portable Appliance Testing" because the portability no longer enters into the equation. And a brief look at the HSE site shows it's very much out of date.

[ITGURU]

Our desktop PCs were 'failed' by PAT testers a few years ago because the front face plates were missing. The little darlings like to push them in and snap them so we have to find something to fill the holes with as there are plenty of sweet and crisps wrappers inside!

[Zourous]

So the PAT testers (or whatever you want call them) came back today but this time it was just the boss. The conversation went like this:

 

B I see these laptops have been visually tested?

Me Yes, but we've decided not to test them now because your colleague was failing them because keys were missing

B I wouldn't have failed them

Me Well, we need some consistency here either they pass or not pass. Anyway we're not checking them now.

 

This has happened before to be honest. One year the same company passed some desktops and the next year failed them because some else from the same company was checking them!

[ITGURU]

We find most the time items are not actually PAT tested - it's a visual check and a sticker applied. I know this as my monitoring doesnt kick up alerts when hardware is disconnected!

[mikeprice]

We find most the time items are not actually PAT tested - it's a visual check and a sticker applied. I know this as my monitoring doesnt kick up alerts when hardware is disconnected!

 

sneaky!!

 

 

I like it