The viewpoint that we take is that it is probably the easiest way of duscharging obligations that employers have under assorted legislation.  Take, for example, 

  "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided."

"Every employer shall take measures to ensure that the exposure of a person using work equipment to any risk to his health or safety from any hazard specified in paragraph (3) is either prevented, or, where that is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled."

"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees....."

"....the matters to which that duty extends include in particular--
(a) the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health..."

Those expressions from the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 are conclusive.  Furtjermore, employers of more than five staffare expected to fully document the risk assessments related to work.  If the equipment in the workplace isn't tested for safety, how can it be otherwise assessed as safe?