The Health & Safety Executive states that over twenty five percent of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances.

The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) place a legal responsibility on employers, etc. to take all reasonable steps to ensure no danger results from the use of such equipment.

This in effect requires the introduction of a regular programme of maintenance, inspection and testing of all electrical equipment and the results of such actions recorded so it is possible to easily identify any deterioration in the said equipment and aid any possible enquiry should an accident occur.