Castles & Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) have pledged their support for Gas Safety Week, which runs from 11 – 17 September 2023. The housing provider will be carrying out over 130 gas safety checks for residents during the week and highlighting the importance of gas safety during their visits.
Gas Safety Week is here to remind the public how to keep themselves gas safe, and organisations across the nation are 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.
James Allen, Compliance Manager at CCHA said: “Our fully qualified gas engineers carry out over 130 gas safety checks per week in our resident’s homes. It’s a legal requirement for us to do this annually in every home so that we can make sure all gas appliances are working safely, and as they should.
“It doesn’t take us very long to carry out a gas safety check and it’s really important that residents don’t miss their scheduled appointment in case they have any faulty appliances, because this could be dangerous.”
Jonathan Samuel, Chief Executive Officer for Gas Safe Register, said: “We’re delighted to see so much support for Gas Safety Week 2023 - now in its thirteenth year. This year we are celebrating the breadth and diversity of gas engineers, their skills, and experiences, which help to keep the nation gas safe all year round. And we’re reminding the public of the importance of always using a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to fix, fit or service gas appliances.”
To keep you and your family safe, the Gas Safe Register also has some top tips:
- Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning; headaches, nausea, breathlessness, dizziness, collapse and loss of consciousness
- Look out for warning signs your appliance may be unsafe, such as a lazy yellow flame instead of a crisp blue flame, error messages or unexpected noises from your boiler or dark and sooty stains around your gas appliance
- Make sure you leave vents unblocked as these are there to help your appliance work safely and efficiently
- 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. CCHA residents should contact our Customer Services Team on 0800 085 1171 to ask for help
- 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
There’s more information about what CCHA does at a gas safety check, and why they are so important on the organisation’s website https://castlesandcoasts.co.uk/your-home/gas-safety-in-your-home/
For more details of the Gas Safe Register, please visit its website www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk.