Hawkesworth appliance testing?

[Greeg]

I just wanted to share my opinion about the quality of service that was done in my company by Hawkesworth Appliance Testing.
Just noticed that this post is about working for Hawktest so my opinion is a little bit off topic.

It was first time that our company was using PAT testing service and I was a little bit sceptical about the whole "PAT testing" thing, so was following engineer (when he was not looking) for few hours

how do you know the service was good

Cos I was "spying" engineer when he was working

did they check all the length of the lead

no engineer was now walking with measure tape and check each cable length... 99% of the cables we have are standard 1m or 1.5m

did they open all the plugtops

Yes he did open most of the plugs and replace some fuses (old fuses were returned to me at the end of the service)

did they look for any faults

Report had some faults listed and it also specified if there was a visual check done or the lead was tested. Visual check was done on the servers cables and some other devices that could not be switched off.

Also sending a report from your mobile means none of the results were checked by anyone, they could have done visuals on all of them etc

For me it means that this company is up to date with technology.
Also I've like the fact that I could see the report after few minutes when the job was finished.

Not everyone believes that the cheapest price is the only thing to consider,

Why overpay when you can get similar quality of service for less money.
(I'm assuming that other companies will test the cables the same way that Hawktest did,
can't say for 100% as this was 1st PAT testing service )

 

[Liberator]

Lol,

it's not all like that at hawks, sounds a little bit like a PR response to me!!

 

[pattester]

I just wanted to share my opinion about the quality of service that was done in my company by Hawkesworth Appliance Testing.
Just noticed that this post is about working for Hawktest so my opinion is a little bit off topic.

It was first time that our company was using PAT testing service and I was a little bit sceptical about the whole "PAT testing" thing, so was following engineer (when he was not looking) for few hours

Cos I was "spying" engineer when he was working

no engineer was now walking with measure tape and check each cable length... 99% of the cables we have are standard 1m or 1.5m

Yes he did open most of the plugs and replace some fuses (old fuses were returned to me at the end of the service)

Report had some faults listed and it also specified if there was a visual check done or the lead was tested. Visual check was done on the servers cables and some other devices that could not be switched off.

For me it means that this company is up to date with technology.
Also I've like the fact that I could see the report after few minutes when the job was finished.


Why overpay when you can get similar quality of service for less money.
(I'm assuming that other companies will test the cables the same way that Hawktest did,
can't say for 100% as this was 1st PAT testing service )

Hi some good answers there, and well done for spying!!

About the length of the lead, I didnt mean measuring it!! I actually mean checking for snags and faults. This is what engineers doing cheap testing havent got time to do.

To assume everyone does the same type of testing as Hawkesworth is that all builders are the same. When you are on a rate per test its all about speed not safety (sadly)

When I worked as a sub contractor there were colleagues of mine doing ridiculous numbers in a morning just to get more money, which is why I gave up and started my own company as In saw this as basically cheating!! some of these poor guys are hijacked into doing sometimes 300 in a day just to make ends meet!

I'll give you a case study - my guys are on a site now where under the desk there are separate UPS's and stuff, male - female leads, and difficult scrabbling around under the desks - the testing is really slow, the engineers can only just about manage 100 tests per session as all the leads have to come out, be tested, and put back. That is - if its done properly and we check the lead for faults and snags.

But theres a place for everyone here, maybe you just got a great guy, and best of luck

 

[UNG]

Am I the only one who thinks Greegs' post is a little bit fishy

The reply he posts sounds more like an advert than praising a job well done. I don't know anyone who would just join a forum to praise a company thats getting a very negative responses posted about it

 

[Liberator]

My thougts exaclty, which is why I said it sounds like a PR exercise (Public Relations), or trying to make a balls-up sound positive, lol

 

[Liberator]

One good thing to note though........... If thats some of the stuff Hawkesworth blurbs about PAT testing to win customers, I.E.. electronic form filling, results online etc, then we all know what to do next with our customers and method or posting PAT results don't we, lol..

Can't deny its a successful company. Just unsafe, and unscrupulous.

 

[Greeg]

Liberator UNG

The reason I've posted on this forum was that the whole PAT testing service was new thing for me.
I used to live in EU country most of my life and I've never heard about PAT testing service before...
I've must admit that this was a small shock for me - test all cables, EVERY YEAR !... Why ???

Anyway I've decided to go with hawktest, cos they had the best prices.
There was also something about legal responsibility if one of the staff will get electric shock, Hawktest will cover that with their insurance (correct me if I'm wrong)

I was also thinkig to replace all power cables and power sockest to EU type - so they don't have to be tested next year

If thats some of the stuff Hawkesworth blurbs about PAT testing to win customers, I.E.. electronic form filling, results online etc, then we all know what to do next with our customers and method or posting PAT results don't we, lol..

Cmon... It's 21st century, most of the companies do have that kind of service as a standard (UPS, Royal Mail, DHL)
1 x HP/Dell Server, VMware software, Apache web server + any type of database and you are up and running. Mobile internet cos almost nothing right now...

 

[rocker]

So what you're saying is that you've read all the information here, but decided that you just want a certificate and want to pay the powest price for it? Am I in the right ballpark?

Yea good luck with that.

 

[cbw]

Yea good luck with that.

Cant believe I am agreeing with everyone today!

 

[golfpaul]

If all he 'needs' are stickers on appliances then fair game.

 

[mogga]

i was in HBOS yesterday n noticed Conourght "visual"stickers everywhere even on 2kw convectors ffs I could send the wife in to do visual checks

 

[lewis2009]

hi,
does any 1 know what kind of tester's hawktest use cause not sure how it's sent through a pen? and also what is your genuine opinion of hawktest as my son is thinking of joining the?

please let me know asap

many thanks

 

[UNG]

Anyway I've decided to go with hawktest, cos they had the best prices.
There was also something about legal responsibility if one of the staff will get electric shock, Hawktest will cover that with their insurance (correct me if I'm wrong)

The fact that a PAT test is an appliance MOT then I don't see what warranty or insurance cover could be offered, I have heard of a number of people being stopped shortly after an MOT (as short a time as 10mins) and being prosecuted for vehicle faults the MOT tester has no liability and the vehicle driver is the one left to carry the can, I would think a similar situation exists with PAT tests

I was also thinkig to replace all power cables and power sockest to EU type - so they don't have to be tested next year

Not sure how this circumvents the PAT requirements please enlighten us

 

[lewis2009]

Hawksworth appliance testing???

my son is apply to join them i was just wondering if you can give me info on them?
whats the wages like.... do you do much working away...... what testers do they use.... any info on them would be most helpfull as i dont want him working for a mickey mouse company

regards

 

[ringer]

Re: Hawksworth appliance testing???

My only experience with them was to ask for info on why they failed an appliance, and they declined to give me that info. Others though have had more dealings with them - see this thread