Gas safety awareness programme launched
Posted by Sue Hopson
Landlords and other property owners are being urged to take steps to make sure gas appliances are in safe working order.
A new campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of gas safety has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Gas Safe Charity.
Called Be Gas Safe, it aims to make people aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and the steps that can be taken to prevent CO poisoning.
Figures show that each year in England and Wales, there are approximately 50 accidental deaths and 200 non-fatal poisonings that require hospital admission due to CO poisoning.
Among the key causes of this are gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or ventilated.
As a landlord, it is legal requirement to have gas appliances installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer and they are obliged to have safety checks on appliances carried out annually.
Doing this will help protect tenants' health and safety, as well reduce the chances of the property owners needing to make a landlord liability insurance claim.
Landlords may also want to consider having a CO alarm installed in their properties to prevent poisoning if there is a leak.
As part of the Be Gas Safe campaign 10,000 families are to receive a free CO detector.
Errol Taylor, RoSPA's deputy chief executive, said: "For many years, RoSPA has raised awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide, which is known as the 'silent killer' because you cannot see it, taste it or smell it.
"Our new partnership with Gas Safe Charity means there will be a sustained effort for a number of years to reach even more people, particularly those who are most vulnerable, with life-saving messages about the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning and the steps that can be taken to reduce the risk."
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