We're pledging our support for Gas Safety Week (9-15 September 2024), to raise awareness about the importance of gas safety.
Coordinated by Gas Safe Register, Gas Safety Week is marked annually to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.
Gas Safety Week is also an opportunity for us to highlight the work we do all year round to promote gas safety. This includes warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO), encouraging people to invest in and test their CO alarms and teaching people, including school children, about gas safety and the symptoms of CO poisoning.
With carbon monoxide still causing deaths in the UK each year, it’s crucial that people have their appliances checked each year to be assured they are working safely and efficiently. People should also check that their engineer is Gas Safe registered. Anyone working on gas appliances while not being registered is working illegally.
This week also provides a chance for us to talk about our Additional Services, including our award-winning locking cooker valve. This is a simple safety device that’s making a massive difference to some of our most vulnerable customers, such as people with Alzheimer’s or autism – not only does it help these customers retain their independence, it also provides reassurance to family, friends and carers. What’s more, we offer this life-changing service for free.
Throughout the week, we’ll be reminding people about the other additional help services we can offer to those who need it most. We work closely with partner organisations to offer further services to help keep everyone safe and warm. For example, our expert energy advice partners offer confidential, independent information about home energy efficiency, help with switching to better tariffs and support with clearing energy bill debt. Having a chat with our Carline Team on 0800 975 1818 could make a big difference.
Also, our Area SHE Manager Grant Taylor will be speaking at IGEM’s Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness event on Tuesday this week, to increase awareness on Gas Safety, the risk of CO poisoning and steps to take to remove and control risks.
We’ve sponsored the event which will be hosted by Claire Adamson, MSP at the Scottish Parliament, where leading professionals from across the gas industry will come together to share insights on driving safety forward.
Jonathan Samuel, Chief Executive Officer for Gas Safe Register, said: “This is the fourteenth Gas Safety Week and the theme for 2024 is Checking—Every Check Counts. The week will encourage checking, in many guises, and shine a light on the importance gas safety in keeping ourselves and our community safe. Throughout Gas Safety Week, our partners, stakeholders and Gas Safe Register will share information to help everyone be gas safe, so I am very pleased to have the support of SGN to help share those messages, such as check the Gas Safe Register to ensure your engineer is registered and qualified.”
By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. No matter how big or small every check counts. Here is a guide to some simple checks that you can do at home:
- Check that you’ve had an annual gas safety check. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants, make sure your landlord arranges this.
- Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer and ensure they’re qualified for the work that needs doing via the Gas Safe Register website and the engineer’s ID card.
- Check for warning signs that could indicate your gas appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy yellow/orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out, too much condensation in the room, or error messages on the appliance’s control panel.
- Check that vents or flues are not blocked. Vents and flues are there to ensure your gas appliances work safely. Blocking them could prevent this.
- Check your knowledge. Remember the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse, and loss of consciousness.
- Check your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. Regular testing ensures that alarms are operational and capable of alerting you to the presence of deadly CO. Also, check they are marked to standards EN50291 and still in date (if applicable).
- Check before doing DIY. Before drilling or hammering, check that there is no risk of hitting a gas pipe. Never DIY on a gas appliance; if you suspect there is something wrong with your appliance or it is not working correctly, call a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can find one at GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
Gas Safe Register is the official register for legally qualified engineers. You can find a registered engineer in your area by visiting the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or by calling on 0800 408 5500.