Personal Appliances in the Workplace
Employees bringing personal electrical appliances to work — desk fans, phone chargers, personal heaters, hair straighteners, fairy lights, mini fridges — creates a significant electrical safety headache for employers. Here is how to manage it with a clear policy.
The Problem
Personal appliances are outside your control. You do not know:
- Whether they have been PAT tested
- Their age or condition
- Whether they have been repaired or modified
- Whether they are suitable for workplace use
Yet as an employer, you are responsible for the safety of your workplace. If an employee's personal fan causes a fire, you may still face liability questions about your management of electrical safety.
Recommended Policy Options
Option 1: Ban personal appliances
The simplest approach — no personal electrical appliances are permitted in the workplace. The employer provides all necessary equipment (and PAT tests it). This is the safest approach but may be unpopular with staff.
Option 2: Permit with testing
Personal appliances are permitted but must be PAT tested before use. The employer arranges testing of all personal items during the annual PAT test visit. This is the most common approach for offices.
Option 3: Permit with registration
Employees must register personal appliances with a manager. Items are visually inspected before use and included in the next PAT test. This balances safety with practicality.
What to Include in Your Policy
- Which appliances are permitted (phone chargers? fans? heaters? kettles?)
- Testing requirements before use
- Who is responsible for the cost of testing
- The process for reporting damage or faults
- Consequences for non-compliance
- Specific prohibitions (e.g., no personal heaters due to fire risk)
Most Common Personal Appliances
In our experience testing workplaces across Greater Manchester, the most common personal items we encounter are phone chargers, desk fans, personal heaters, desk lamps, laptop chargers, and mini fridges. Phone chargers and laptop chargers are generally low-risk. Personal heaters are the highest-risk item and many employers ban them outright.
Need Advice?
Contact Green Tag PAT to discuss managing personal appliances during your next PAT test. We can test everything on-site — both business and personal items — across Greater Manchester and Northwest England.
Need a PAT Test in Greater Manchester?
Based in Salford, covering all of Greater Manchester. From £59, same-day certificates.