GAS SAFE NEWS 2012

UK plagued by dangerous gas appliances

10th August 2012

Work carried out by unregistered gas engineers is putting lives at risk across the country

Lives across the UK are being put at risk by unregistered gas engineers who are undertaking jobs they are unqualified to do. In the past 12 months 690 gas appliances, which are just some of the thousands worked on by unregistered gas engineers, were tested by Gas Safe Register with 93 per cent found to be potentially unsafe.

Of these jobs, 19 per cent (132 appliances) were deemed immediately dangerous, posing a risk of leaking carbon monoxide (CO) – a deadly gas. Because CO is tasteless, colourless and odourless, it is almost impossible to detect and people don’t realise they are in danger until it is too late.

As 12 per cent of UK homeowners reveal they would willingly use an unregistered gas engineer or friend in order to save money, the message for Gas Safety Week is that this could be a fatal mistake.

Paul Johnston, chief executive of Gas Safe Register said:

“It is vital that only a Gas Safe registered engineer fixes, fits and services your gas appliances. Homeowners should arrange a gas safety check and service each year by a registered engineer. For those people renting homes, they should ensure they have seen a current Gas Safety Record from their landlord, which is a legal requirement.”

Department of Health research showed that around 4,000 people will present themselves at hospital with CO symptoms in a twelve month period. In the last year there have been more than 50 deaths as a result of CO poisoning, with 16 of those attributable to faulty gas appliances. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Paul Johnston continued: “Gas work carried out by anyone unregistered not only could pose a risk to your health, financially it could cost a lot to fix. Our statistics show homeowners have to pay out an average of 25 per cent more to get the defects rectified. When you’re having a new appliance fitted, such as a boiler, you could be out of pocket by hundreds of pounds.”

Ron Gainsford, Chief Executive for the Trading Standards Institute said:

“Using an unregistered gas engineer is not a way to save money – these people are working illegally and the resulting damage could end up costing homeowners much more.

“We are very concerned at these new figures which show that 19 per cent of appliances were deemed immediately dangerous and would urge anyone affected by these rogue traders to contact Gas Safe Register or call the Citizens Advice customer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 who can then crack down on these criminals.

“If you need work done in your home, check Gas Safe Register and only use a registered gas engineer.”

In professional hands gas is perfectly safe. Gas Safe Register advises:

• Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fix, fit and service gas appliances
• Make sure gas appliances have a safety check every year and a regular service
• Find a registered engineer at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500
• Always ask to see the engineer’s Gas safe ID card
• You can’t see of smell CO but it can kill quickly without warning
• Recognise the symptoms of CO poisoning – headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

Gas Safe Register has launched Gas Safety Week to raise awareness of gas safety issues and carbon monoxide poisoning. To download Gas Safe Register’s top tips guide to staying gas safe, please go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk/GasSafetyWeek.

 <<Back to news releases