2009, launching a campaign to make the nation 'gas safe'.
Research from the Gas Safe Register suggests Britons are far too
trusting regarding gas safety, with over half those polled saying they
never checked whether their gas engineer was registered.
From tomorrow the 'make Britain gas safe' message will be launched, to
propound Brits to "be safe, use a registered engineer and always check
the card". The Gas Safe Register say, with 14 people dying from
carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning last year due to badly installed,
repaired and maintained gas appliances, keeping the public safe is
their top priority.
Pete Eldridge, chief executive of Gas Safe Register, said: "As the
new hallmark for gas safety in Great Britain, Gas Safe Register will
make it much easier for the public to be gas safe because in the wrong
hands, gas can kill. Our message is simple. To keep you and your
family safe, always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when you have
any gas work done in your home.
"We will raise public awareness of the importance of always asking for
the ID card and checking the unique licence number. Different types of
gas work require different skills, so it's important that you check
the back of the ID card to make sure your engineer is qualified to
carry out the work you want them to do."
Gas Safe Register say they will offer the public an improved service
making it easier to find and check an engineer. Every Gas Safe
registered engineer has a photo ID card with a unique licence number,
and details of the work they are qualified to do.
The new register will aim to reduce the number of gas-related deaths
and injuries every year caused by incorrectly installed, badly
repaired and poorly maintained gas appliances, by raising awareness
appliances should be inspected regularly by a qualified engineer. Some
19.05 per cent of households with a gas boiler had not had it serviced
for at least three years, according to the research, rather than the
recommended once a year.
Leaders Estate Agents, managing director, Paul Weller, said: "There is
a risk that some landlords and letting agents may not be aware of
these changes, and will continue to use CORGI engineers. If this is
the case, the gas safety record issued by them would not be valid and
the landlord would be responsible if anything went wrong during the
tenancy.
"If your letting agent has not made you aware of these critically
important changes, we would urge you to question whether you are using
an appropriate agent, and strongly suggest you move to one who
specialises in lettings, has decades of experience and is a member of
the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), and can keep you
fully advised. Penalties for not complying with the Gas Installation
(Safety and Use) Regulations 1998 for landlords are severe, and
include imprisonment."
From April 1st 2009, all work on gas installations or appliances must
only be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
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