GAS SAFE NEWS 2011

9 million British families at deadly risk from faulty gas appliances but fail to take action

10th October 2011

Every year, millions of Brits are putting themselves and their families at risk of serious danger or indeed death in the home by turning a blind eye to the hazards posed by unsafe gas appliances, according to Gas Safe Register which launched Gas Safety Week 2011 to highlight the problem.

Of the 21 million gas-using homes in the UK, almost half (9 million) don’t have annual safety checks on their gas appliances and a shocking 1.6 million admit to never having had appliances checked. 97% understood that they were risking the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks or explosions by not having their appliances checked regularly.

When asked why they didn’t have their appliances checked, 37% cited cost as the main reason, 29% claimed it was only necessary if a problem needed fixing, 17% simply forgot to, and 8% said it was someone else’s responsibility.

Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register, said, “You wouldn’t drive your car year in year out without checking it to ensure the brakes and lights work. It’s no different with gas appliances. You risk endangering your family’s health and in some cases their lives. We are encouraging everyone to take care and be gas safe this week so that fewer people will suffer from preventable gas accidents.”

Corinne Sweet, psychologist said,

“Generally people tend to bury their head in the sand and believe something such as a serious accident couldn’t happen to them, and are very shocked when it does. The report from the Gas Safe Register shows that although people are aware of the risks of not having their appliances checked, 43% don’t have it done, a shocking statistic, which just highlights that British families really are playing with fire when it comes to gas safety.”

For more advice visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/illegals or call 0800 408 5500.

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