How to Ensure your Gas Work is Safe

The newspapers have recently been reporting on tragic consequences of unsafe gas work. There have been reports of people suffering from brain damage and paralysis from carbon monoxide exposure. Often this would be a result from poorly fitted or badly repaired gas appliances. Unfortunately the sting in the tale is that most of these tragedies could have been prevented, had the correct safety measures been in place.

Gas Safe Register

The basis for the Gas Safe Register is to make sure that the public is protected at all times from unsafe gas work. This involves keeping track of all the reports that come in outlining faulty appliances and repairs. The Gas Safe Register takes reports that threaten gas safety very seriously.

Any firm that becomes registered under the Gas Safety register is agreeing to take gas safety very seriously, and as part of the rules of registration, they are ultimately responsible for solving any faults reported by a customer. As most businesses are keen on maintaining their reputation, they will act quickly in rectifying the situation should a customer complain. If they do not do so, they can face some harsh consequences. They could face suspension of their registration or even complete removal from the Register.

It is understandable that most businesses will feel disheartened to learn of customer complaints. This is particularly as most businesses are very dedicated and honest in their approach by sticking to the law. They will have spent quality time in training and funds into their registration, therefore they will feel they are getting unfair treatment from their customers.

However, public safety should always come first and only high standards of gas work will be acceptable. It is important that a balance is struck between taking care of a customer's needs whilst also ensuring that the registered engineers are treated with fairness and respect.

There are many complaints made that are completely unfounded. To avoid this, it is better to keep the communication open between the customer and the business so that the customer can complain to the business when they are not satisfied with the gas work.

Maintaining the right balance

The Gas Safe Register works to ensure that the businesses are treated fairly whilst maintaining public safety. During the investigation process, the Gas Safe Register invites businesses to participate too. This is beneficial in two ways. Firstly, it gives the business an opportunity to put things right. Secondly, it allows them to learn from the mistake so that it will never happen again, and also maintain good customer relations.

If it is found that the work carried out was done by someone who is not registered or competent, this will call for immediate inspection and the information will be passed on to the Health and Safety Executive.

To ensure safety, it is necessary that when a defect notice is issued, the business takes the responsibility of completing the rectification work within the deadline specified by the Gas Safety Register. If for some reason the business fails to carry out the remedial work, then it should make alternative arrangements with the customer for another registered business to do it.

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This page has been written with contributions from plumbers from Essex and heating engineers from Greenwich. Several of the company's plumbing and heating engineers from Merseyside have worked on similar issues as well as some of our Gas Safe engineers from Wood-Green and our Islington experienced plumbers.

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