Flashbang
|
Having been retired for seven years now (originally early) from my electrical background employment and with C & G qualifications for Electrical Installations and Fitters taken years ago. I find that most of my local clubs (Model Railways) that I frequent, who meet mainly in council run halls are now as part of the hall hire agreement required to have all portable electrical items used within the building PAT checked. The cost by the local council is currently running at around £1.50 to £2 per item tested. Many of these items are personal club members tools like mains power drills, jig saws etc. which they bring in for ad-hoc work on items being built for the club use. Many of the clubs also own their own electrically powered items for providing mains power to train controllers etc. This it appears is going on with other locally based similar clubs too which are not in my councils area. The issue become more prevalent when a club decides to host an exhibition where 'outsiders' are invited to attend.
My thoughts, too occupy some of my spare time, was to obtain a PAT teasing machine - I now have a S/H Robin 3000 tester which will need calibrating once I obtain a qualification to allow myself to undertake PAT checks on all equipment used by my two clubs and then probably offer my services to the other clubs membership on an expenses only (travel to their clubs venue) cost. The PAT testing being arranged on an evening and their clubs membership coming along on that ear marked evening with their power tools etc.
Now it appears most local councils will only accept C & G 2377 qualifications for PAT testers. This is fine, but obtaining such a qualification is not that simple for a retired person. All my local Technical colleges say they do not run C & G 2377 courses, but they run all other electrical courses! The only option for me is to go to a private training company and take the course. But the cost for a course is (IMO) vast! Its running at around £250 for the course which is often one day plus the exam while some are two days with the cost of the C & G exam on top in many cases. So a simple PAT course can exceed £300 plus VAT! While this for a business may be ok and possibly tax deductible. To me, who is on a pension income, seems OTT or am I being unreasonable?
Your views and any thoughts on C & G 2377 courses etc are most welcome.
|