What’s in Your Bag? The PAT tester

We haven’t had a poke around a home business owner’s bag lately, and our survey is already showing that you’re as curious as we are to know how other people work!

So I’m delighted to introduce Richard Ayre, who is a PAT tester, and has agreed to show us the tools of his trade. Click on the photo to see it full size.

Here’s the bag of a PAT tester. I’m not a fan of tool bags, especially as our role is more of technician than electrician. This bag is part laptop bag, part tool bag so it’s perfect for my needs. In the photo you can see:

· Test equipment that I’ve used on today’s jobs.

· Labels for attaching to appliances.

· My IPad for recording results on and keeping up to date with emails.

· A selection of screw drivers and wire cutters.

· Scissors, which are essential for removing old labels.

(I’ve not shown the messy areas filled with spare parts!)

All my work is at a customer’s premises, which is where their appliances will be located. We work in all kinds of places from schools to call centres, factories to building sites, home businesses to hair salons, nightclubs, hotels and shops etc.

Basically if a business has an electrical appliance we could work there. I also have to spend approximately 8 hours per week in my home office doing administrative tasks such as producing reports and certificates.

We cover the North East of England mainly, although we do have contracts nationally. As Operations Director for the national association, the PAT Testing Network, I have many PAT tester contacts around the UK whom I can call upon should I need a job doing.

Richard’s company DRA Solutions is a specialist PAT testing company providing a professional and reliable electrical appliance testing service to businesses, organisations and schools across the North East of England.