Gas Safety Week

Published September 18 2017
2 minute read

 

Gas Safety Week is a national safety campaign to raise awareness of gas safety in the UK. Taking place from the 18th - 24th September 2017.

Did you know?

  • Every year thousands of people across the UK are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a highly poisonous gas. You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it, but it can kill quickly with no warning.
  • Gas Safe Register found almost 5 million people across the UK are putting themselves at risk by employing illegal gas fitters who aren’t properly qualified. 65% of all gas jobs carried out by illegal fitters were unsafe, with 1 in 5 so dangerous they had to be disconnected immediately. (2017 research)
  • 3 in 4 victims of illegal gas work hired the worker following a friend’s recommendation and 1 in 4 found them through an advert, wrongly assuming they were registered. In all cases the householder did not check the credentials of the worker before the work was carried out – you should always check the official Gas Safe Register. (2016 research)
  • Although there is awareness that gas appliances need to be safety checked annually, 43% of Britons don’t do it, and 10% have gas appliances which have never been checked (2011 research).

Follow these steps to keep your home gas safe:

  • Have your gas appliances checked every year, by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
  • Check for warning signs on or around gas appliances (like soot or staining, excess condensation, lazy yellow flames, intermittent pilot light).
  • Don’t DIY or use an illegal gas worker. If they’re not on the Gas Safe Register, they’re working illegally and could be putting you at risk.
  • Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that you cannot see, smell or taste. Fit an audible CO alarm to alert you if it’s present.