Think smart this Gas Safety Week

We are encouraging families to learn about why keeping your gas appliances working safely is so important.

MOST of us take having a gas supply in our homes for granted but, during Gas Safety Week this week, it seems that we could do a lot more to keep ourselves and our families safe. From September 16 to 22, the Gas Safe Register will be working to raise awareness about the potential consequences of unsafe gas appliances and giving advice to help people recognise how they are working properly. According to Gas Safe Register, 26% of Scottish adults don’t know the signs of unsafe gas appliances and nearly 20% don’t ensure that their home gas appliances are safe. Other worrying statistics from the survey carried out by Gas Safe included one in four Scottish adults admitting that they take no steps at all to ensure that their home’s gas appliances are safe. Only half of the adults questioned said they have their gas appliances checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer, two in five have an audible carbon monoxide alarm and one in four know how to check that their gas engineer is on the Gas Safe Register. So how should we check whether a gas appliance is safe? Tips include spotting a lazy yellow flame, a pilot light that keeps going out or black marks on or around the appliances. Increased condensation inside windows can also be a sign of a problem. According to Jonathan Samuel, chief executive of Gas Safe Registers, “This Gas Safety Week we are encouraging families to learn about why keeping your gas appliances working safely is so important. A gas safety check by a registered gas engineer is the first line of defence from a potential fire or carbon monoxide poisoning and we recommend getting a gas safety check every year for peace of mind.” Gas Safe Register recommends six simple steps to keep our families safe and warm in our homes: 1. Only use a Gas Safe registered engineer. 2. Double check both sides of your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card to know that they’re registered and qualified to work on your gas appliances. 3. Have all gas appliances serviced and safety checked every year. 4. Familiarise yourself with the six signs of CO poisoning; headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness. 5. Check appliances for warning signs that they are not working properly, e.g. black marks or stains on or around the appliance, lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones and condensation around the room. 6. Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm for a second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning. To find out more about the dangers, preventable measures and to find a Gas Safe registered engineer visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. You can also find more information from Gas Safe Register on social media @GasSafeRegister, #dontcutcornerswithgas.