We're supporting Gas Safety Week 2017
15 September 2017
Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week that aims to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. This year it's taking place between the 18th and 24th of September, and we've pledged our support alongside more than 7,000 other organisations across the UK to raising awareness for gas safety.
Twenty three million households in the United Kingdom use gas for heating, hot water and cooking and yet we take it for granted that our boilers, cookers and gas fires are safe. Badly fitted and poorly serviced appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. As part of raising awareness during Gas Safety Week, we’d like to share some facts and tips about gas safety:
- Gas Safe Register estimates that almost 5 million households across the UK are at risk from illegal fitters who aren't properly qualified (based on information from Gas Safe Register Research 2017).
- Although there is awareness that gas appliances need to be safety checked annually, more than 5.5 million Britons don’t do it (based on information from Gas Safety Week Research 2015).
- 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.
- You should know the six signs of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness. Unsafe gas appliances can put you at risk of CO poisoning, gas leaks and fires.
- Make sure to check for warning signs that your appliances aren’t working correctly e.g. lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
- You should only use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and service your appliances. You can find and check an engineer at GasSafeRegister.co.uk or by calling 0800 408 5500.
To find out more about Gas Safety Week, visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk.