Everybody has heard the term ‘cowboy’ applied to tradespersons who appear to be operating outside the strict confines of the law. They may be roofers, builders, electricians, gardeners and more. Suffice to say, a nod and a wink and cash in hand is usually their modus operandi.
Of course, one reason they can get away with it is because they tend to charge less, even if that also means there is a high risk they won’t actually do a good job. But when it comes to anyone working with gas appliances such as boilers, gas fires and cookers, the dangers involved are far worse than just a bit of flaky workmanship.
The fact is that if a gas plumber or other gas worker is not a fully trained, competent professional, the consequences can be fatal. Gas leaks can be one spark away from starting a fire or even causing a catastrophic explosion, while misdirected flues can lead to deadly carbon monoxide leaks.
For this reason, the Gas Safe Register exists to ensure all workers attending to gas appliances are fully trained and accredited. The simple message to householders is that if someone is working with a gas appliance, they should first prove they are on the register.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently emphasised this point in response to a devastating incident in the Kingstanding area of Birmingham in July, where a gas leak led to a large explosion that destroyed a house, killing a woman and leaving a man seriously injured.
While the HSE emphasised that gas explosions and fires of this kind are very rare – it only recorded 25 such cases among more than 22 million UK homes with gas appliances in 2020/21 – it still stated that appliances do need to be checked regularly and that householders should make sure it is done by someone with a Gas Safe Certificate.
The HSE issued a further statement at the beginning of August stating that “now’s the time” to get gas appliances checked. Of course, some appliances will have had little or no use over the summer months, especially gas heating. Once again, it reminded people of the rarity of incidents such as the Kingstanding explosion, but also of the importance using Gas Safe accredited workers.
In addition, it noted that a gas check to ensure appliances are working well can also make sure they are being fuel-efficient, an important consideration with colder weather coming and energy bills set to soar.
HSE policy lead for gas safety John Rowe commented: “The summer months are perfect time to get your appliances checked so come winter you know they are working safely and efficiently.”
Of course, your home will be warmer if it hasn’t been compromised by cowboys working on other parts of it. But by ensuring that those fixing, checking or maintaining your gas boiler or other appliances are not on the wrong side of the law, you will have a safer and warmer home as well as peace of mind.