What is the Gas Safe Register?
Gas is used for a number of appliances found around a home or business, such as ovens, stoves and heating systems. This has been the case for over 200 years in the UK, but over time users have acknowledged the serious health and safety issues surrounding managing a gas supply incorrectly. If your gas supply requires work or a safety check, you need someone who knows what they're doing and can avoid causing potential harm, such as gas leaks or fires. The Gas Safe Register is the official authoritative body in the UK that allows you to verify whether a business, engineer or gas installer is legally licensed to handle your gas appliances. By law, anyone who handles gas work should be on the Gas Safe Register.
Every engineer on the register has been trained and assessed to ensure that they meet safety standards. They also have to renew their licence every year to make sure that they continue to comply with regulations. By choosing someone from the register, you can mitigate any serious consequences of your gas supply being mishandled.
How to find a Gas Safe Engineer?
Finding an engineer in your area is pretty simple. All you need to do is go on their website, Gas Safe Register. From there, you enter your postcode and select if you are a domestic or commercial property. A list of businesses within your area will show up along with their services, engineers and contact information.
To check if the business or engineer you are working with is licensed, you can simply do a quick search online for their business on the Gas Safe Register website. Every engineer should have an ID number that they can show to you to check their credentials.
What does the Gas Safe Register do?
The Gas Safe Register is the only official body responsible for registering gas businesses and engineers in the UK. They monitor competence and safety regularly to ensure the safety of the public.
They are responsible for handling complaints made against anyone on the register. This means that if in their investigation they find that a business or engineer breaches any rules, they will face serious repercussions. They also have the authority to investigate any reports of work that was done under an unlicensed engineer.
What's the importance of a licensed Gas Safe Engineer?
If you’re looking to service anything from pipework to your boiler (anything gas-related), you must get a licensed Gas Safe engineer to do these jobs. Getting any of these jobs done by an unlicensed engineer puts your homes and businesses at risk of gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning or fires. This type of work is regulated, meaning only professionals should be handling gas work. Allowing someone other than a Gas Safe engineer to carry out these services leaves you vulnerable. Not only is it illegal, but if something were to happen, your insurance may not cover you for the damages and could leave you in a far worse position.
A checklist for businesses about Gas Safe rules
If you're thinking about starting a business, there are a few things you should know when it comes to gas. Below is a brief checklist that you should follow in order to keep your workers safe.
Gas Checklist:
- Use a Gas Safe-registered engineer
- Get an annual gas safety check
- Get a gas safety certificate annually
- Keep appliances safe and in good working condition.
- Handle any unsafe appliances immediately.
Purely Energy works with a number of gas safe engineers across the UK and can assist you in recommending the best person for the job. If you are opening a new business or looking for help with ongoing work, we can assist with gas meter installations, relocations, new connections and more!
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Written by Faith Labong at Purely Energy
