Gas Safe Week and what it means

Wills & Smerdon is supporting Gas Safety Week 2019

The ninth annual Gas Safety Week sees organisations from across the UK working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. This year, Gas Safety Week is addressing a whole range of gas safety matters with a focus on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable - from advice about how to keep vulnerable loved ones gas safe, to raising awareness of using a registered engineer who is legally qualified, to ensure consumers don’t become vulnerable to illegal gas work through lack of awareness.

Sara Grey, Lettings Manager says "whilst we are a regulated lettings & property management agency and, therefore, ensure our tenants are safe at all times from the dangers of gas, we come across numerous tenants and properties, which have not been so diligently looked after. It is a huge risk to anybody, but when your safety is the responsibility of a landlord or a letting agency, your life can literally be in someone else's hands. We urge landlords to always use a regulated agent, who can prove they use regulated, experienced and accredited gas engineers (such as Wills & Smerdon) and tenants to hassle your landlord or letting agent if you do not have regular boiler services, and an annual gas safety check."

Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “It’s great to see so many people supporting Gas Safety Week this year to help spread important and, in some cases, lifesaving advice about gas safety. It’s so vital that we help people to know not to cut corners with gas and always ask a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances at their home to stay gas safe.”

To keep you and your family safe, follow Gas Safe Register’s top tips:

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning; headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness.
If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999.
Never attempt to work on a gas appliance yourself, always seek the help of a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer who can work on your gas cooker, boiler or fire in a safe way.
Don’t cut corners - only employ a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home.
Always ask to see your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. Make sure you check the back of the card, which will state which gas appliances they are qualified to work on.

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.