Gas Safety Week 2022 starts today and runs until the 18th September 2022. Celebrating its twelfth year, this integral event aims to see industries come together for the same common goal: keeping the nation gas safe. During the Gas Safety Week campaign, thousands of businesses pledge to educate and raise awareness surrounding gas safety, helping to protect their customers and save lives.
Here are some simple to help keep you safe in your own home...
Use These 5 Gas Safety Tips at Home
1. Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm
A carbon monoxide alarm (or a CO alarm) is an essential purchase for your safety as they detect the poisonous gas at the first instance, and provide an early warning to inhabitants. It can save lives by letting you know when this deadly, toxic gas is present within your home.
Carbon monoxide is produced when gas is unable to burn fully - this can occur in appliances that you may find in your home, such as:
- gas boilers
- gas cookers
- clay ovens
- gas or paraffin heaters
Ensure to place your carbon monoxide alarm in the same room as your fuel-burning appliance, either on the wall or mounted onto the ceiling.
2. Ensure your engineer is Gas Safe registered
The Gas Safe Register outlines a list of businesses that are legally permitted to carry out gas work safely and to the highest standard. Not all engineers are qualified to do all types of gas work, so it's important to check your engineer's ID card before they complete any work within your household.
Firstly, always ask to see your engineer's Gas Safe ID card and their unique licence number to prove that they are on the Gas Safe Register. Secondly, check the reverse of their ID card to confirm that they are qualified to carry out the work that you need doing.
You can check that an engineer is on the Gas Safe Register, or find an engineer that is Gas-Safe registered on this website, or alternatively call 0800 408 5500.
3. Educate yourself on carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas produced as a by-product during the incomplete combustion of fuels due to a lack of oxygen. In June 2022, one hotel guest died in Morecombe due to carbon monoxide poisoning, leaving five others hospitalised. So, how do you identify carbon monoxide within your home if you can't smell or see it?
Look out for the symptoms...
- headache
- dizziness
- nausea
- weakness
- confusion
- shortness of breath
- chest and muscle pain
If you have any of these symptoms, immediately visit your doctor or local hospital and notify them of your symptoms.
4. Look out for gas appliance warning signs
Look out for the warning signs that imply your gas appliance isn't working to its best ability. Watch out for:
- lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones on your gas hob
- black soot marks and stains around appliances
- an excess of condensation within the room of the appliance(s)
- a lack of ventilation around appliances such as chimneys and vents
If you find any of these warning signs, contact your Gas-Safe registered engineer to check your property and appliance(s) as soon as possible.
5. Arrange an emergency procedure for your home
If you can smell gas or suspect immediate danger, it is vital that you have an emergency procedure in place to keep yourself and your property's inhabitants safe.
In a gas emergency, remember to stay calm and act quickly:
1. Get fresh air immediately and ventilate the property by opening all doors and windows
2. Switch off the appliance and do not use it until it has been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer
3. Turn off the gas supply at the mains
4. Do NOT turn on any lights and avoid using other electrical switches and appliances as this could trigger an explosion
5. Do NOT smoke or light any match or naked flame
6. If you have any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, visit the hospital immediately and notify them of your symptoms related to carbon monoxide poisoning
7. Contact your local Gas Safe registered engineer to check and fix your appliance
Looking into becoming a Gas Safe engineer?
If you want to train as a gas fitter and join the Gas Safe Register, Access Training can help. We work with awarding organisations like City & Guilds to help you earn industry-recognised gas qualifications.
We recommend our Professional Gas Course, which is specifically designed to help you work towards Gas Safe registration. No experience is necessary to enrol on this course - contact us now to find out more!
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