The Silent And Invisible Killer That Could Be Lurking In Your Premises
You cant see it. You cant taste it. You cant even smell it. But carbon monoxide can kill without warning in just a matter of hours so says the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in one of their Gas Safety leaflets.
The truth of the statement was tragically illustrated in 2006 when a British family on holiday in Corfu were overcome by carbon monoxide. The gas boiler in their holiday apartment was faulty and during the night pumped carbon monoxide into their sleeping accommodation. The father and his partner survived the incident, but only after two days in intensive care. Sadly, the children, aged 6 and 7, died, having succumbed to the silent killer.
Back at home HSE statistics reveal that cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from faulty gas appliances are not uncommon. During 2007/8, 150 work-related incidents of CO poisoning (an increase of 30.4% on 2006/7), with 34 explosion incidents (up by 54.5%), were reported. These gas incidents resulted in 306 injuries, including 14 people who died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and 3 who died following gas explosions.
In nearly every case, these incidents, injuries and deaths were down to equipment and appliances that had not been properly installed or maintained. Had the equipment been properly installed and subject to regular servicing and maintenance nearly all could have been prevented.
Gas equipment is often taken for granted, expected to work on demand and by automated controls. Until it fails it is out of sight and out of mind. When it does go wrong it will be at the time of greatest need; central heating systems do not go wrong in the summer – they only ever seem to go wrong on “the coldest day of the year so far.” Whatever the system, its failure will only ever be noticed when it is wanted. If there is a total failure, users may be tempted to try to get the system going by their own devices or carry on using equipment that is clearly not working correctly – sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Recognising these factors as a cause of incidents, and that they could be prevented by routine maintenance, legislation requires that gas equipment is inspected and maintained by trained competent personnel. In domestic, commercial and many manufacturing situations it is a strict offence for any person to install, alter or repair any item of gas equipment if they are not competent to do so. For gas work, competent personnel are legally defined as members of a scheme approved by the HSE.
Until recently, the CORGI gas registration scheme was the approved scheme but, with effect from 1st April 2009, the Gas Safe Register™, operated by Capita plc on behalf of HSE, has become the approved scheme.
In practice, gas consumers and employers will see no change to the way work is done. Instead of checking that a gas engineer is registered with the CORGI scheme they will now have to check that they are listed on the Gas Safe Register™. Every Gas Safe registered engineer will carry an ID card. This will contain their name, photograph, licence and registration numbers and a start and expiry date. The back of the card lists the type of work that an engineer is competent to complete. Checking the details on the ID card can easily be done by calling the Gas Safe Register™ on 0800 408 5500 or via their website www.gassafe register.co.uk. The registration scheme has been open since early January so, by now, gas engineers should be able to demonstrate their membership of the Gas Safe Register™.
The HSE has made the changes to the scheme to modernise and simplify the existing registration requirements for gas engineers. They say that the new scheme will not compromise safety or standards and offers further opportunities for improvements in standards and the wider promotion of gas safety.
Apart from using Gas Safe registered™ engineers, employers and the self-employed are required to ensure that any gas appliance, installation, pipe work or flue installed in any place of work under their control is maintained in a safe condition. To meet these requirements gas appliances and supply systems should be inspected on an annual basis or more often if required by the manufacturer’s instructions. A report of the inspection, showing that the equipment is safe for continued use, should be obtained and kept with your safety records.
Where an employer or self-employed person acts as a Landlord and leases domestic premises or provides residential accommodation as part of their business, additional specific requirements apply. Landlords have to ensure that gas fittings and flues are checked once in every period of 12 months and keep a record of the safety checks (known as the Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate) for at least two years. A copy of this Gas Safety Certificate has to be given to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and new tenants should be given a copy before they move in. For these regulations a ‘landlord’ will include local authorities, housing associations, private sector landlords, housing co-operatives and hostels providing residential accommodation for rent. Rooms let in bed-sit accommodation, private households, and bed and breakfast accommodation are also covered, along with rented holiday accommodation, such as chalets, cottages, flats, caravans and narrow boats on inland waterways. The duties apply to landlords providing residential accommodation for occupation by others on the basis of a lease for less than seven years, a tenancy agreement for a periodic term, or a licence.
Back at home HSE statistics reveal that cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from faulty gas appliances are not uncommon. During 2007/8, 150 work-related incidents of CO poisoning (an increase of 30.4% on 2006/7), with 34 explosion incidents (up by 54.5%), were reported. These gas incidents resulted in 306 injuries, including 14 people who died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and 3 who died following gas explosions.
In nearly every case, these incidents, injuries and deaths were down to equipment and appliances that had not been properly installed or maintained. Had the equipment been properly installed and subject to regular servicing and maintenance nearly all could have been prevented.
Gas equipment is often taken for granted, expected to work on demand and by automated controls. Until it fails it is out of sight and out of mind. When it does go wrong it will be at the time of greatest need; central heating systems do not go wrong in the summer – they only ever seem to go wrong on “the coldest day of the year so far.” Whatever the system, its failure will only ever be noticed when it is wanted. If there is a total failure, users may be tempted to try to get the system going by their own devices or carry on using equipment that is clearly not working correctly – sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Recognising these factors as a cause of incidents, and that they could be prevented by routine maintenance, legislation requires that gas equipment is inspected and maintained by trained competent personnel. In domestic, commercial and many manufacturing situations it is a strict offence for any person to install, alter or repair any item of gas equipment if they are not competent to do so. For gas work, competent personnel are legally defined as members of a scheme approved by the HSE.
Until recently, the CORGI gas registration scheme was the approved scheme but, with effect from 1st April 2009, the Gas Safe Register™, operated by Capita plc on behalf of HSE, has become the approved scheme.
In practice, gas consumers and employers will see no change to the way work is done. Instead of checking that a gas engineer is registered with the CORGI scheme they will now have to check that they are listed on the Gas Safe Register™. Every Gas Safe registered engineer will carry an ID card. This will contain their name, photograph, licence and registration numbers and a start and expiry date. The back of the card lists the type of work that an engineer is competent to complete. Checking the details on the ID card can easily be done by calling the Gas Safe Register™ on 0800 408 5500 or via their website www.gassafe register.co.uk. The registration scheme has been open since early January so, by now, gas engineers should be able to demonstrate their membership of the Gas Safe Register™.
The HSE has made the changes to the scheme to modernise and simplify the existing registration requirements for gas engineers. They say that the new scheme will not compromise safety or standards and offers further opportunities for improvements in standards and the wider promotion of gas safety.
Apart from using Gas Safe registered™ engineers, employers and the self-employed are required to ensure that any gas appliance, installation, pipe work or flue installed in any place of work under their control is maintained in a safe condition. To meet these requirements gas appliances and supply systems should be inspected on an annual basis or more often if required by the manufacturer’s instructions. A report of the inspection, showing that the equipment is safe for continued use, should be obtained and kept with your safety records.
Where an employer or self-employed person acts as a Landlord and leases domestic premises or provides residential accommodation as part of their business, additional specific requirements apply. Landlords have to ensure that gas fittings and flues are checked once in every period of 12 months and keep a record of the safety checks (known as the Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate) for at least two years. A copy of this Gas Safety Certificate has to be given to existing tenants within 28 days of the inspection and new tenants should be given a copy before they move in. For these regulations a ‘landlord’ will include local authorities, housing associations, private sector landlords, housing co-operatives and hostels providing residential accommodation for rent. Rooms let in bed-sit accommodation, private households, and bed and breakfast accommodation are also covered, along with rented holiday accommodation, such as chalets, cottages, flats, caravans and narrow boats on inland waterways. The duties apply to landlords providing residential accommodation for occupation by others on the basis of a lease for less than seven years, a tenancy agreement for a periodic term, or a licence.
For more information or to arrange a no obligation business health check, call Peter Titchener on 07817319741 or via email on peter.titchener@peninsula-uk.com
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