Energy company SGN pledgessupport for Gas Safety Week 2024
Gas distribution company SGN has proudly pledged its support
for annual Gas Safety Week (9-15 September 2024), to raise
awareness about the importance of gas safety.
Coordinated by Gas Safe Register, Gas Safety Week is marked
annually to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance
of taking care of your gas appliances.
Gas Safety Week is also an opportunity for us to highlight
the work we do all year round to promote gas safety. This
includes warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO),
encouraging people to invest in and test their CO alarms and
teaching people, including school children, about gas safety
and the symptoms of CO poisoning. With carbon monoxide
still causing deaths in the UK each year, it’s crucial that
people have their appliances checked each year to be assured
they are working safely and efficiently. People should also
check that their engineer is Gas Safe registered. Anyone
working on gas appliances while not being registered is
working illegally.
This week also provides a chance for us to talk about our
Additional Services, including our award-winning locking
cooker valve. This is a simple safety device that’s making a
massive difference to some of our most vulnerable customers,
such as people with Alzheimer’s or autism – not only does it
help these customers retain their independence, it also
provides reassurance to family, friends and carers. What’s
more, we offer this life-changing service for free.
Throughout the week, we’ll be reminding people about the
other additional help services we can offer to those who
need it most. We work closely with partner organisations to
offer further services to help keep everyone safe and warm.
For example, our expert energy advice partners offer
confidential, independent information about home energy
efficiency, help with switching to better tariffs and
support with clearing energy bill debt. Having a chat with
our Carline Team on 0800 975 1818 could make a big
difference.
Also,
our Area SHE Manager Grant Taylor will be speaking at IGEM’s
Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness event on Tuesday
this week, to increase awareness on Gas Safety, the risk of
CO poisoning and steps to take to remove and control risks.
We’ve sponsored the event which will be hosted by Claire
Adamson, MSP at the Scottish Parliament, where leading
professionals from across the gas industry will come
together to share insights on driving safety forward.
Jonathan Samuel, Chief Executive Officer for Gas Safe
Register, said: “This is the fourteenth Gas Safety Week and
the theme for 2024 is Checking—Every Check Counts.
The week will encourage checking, in many guises, and
shine a light on the importance gas safety in keeping
ourselves and our community safe. Throughout Gas Safety
Week, our partners, stakeholders and Gas Safe Register will
share information to help everyone be gas safe, so I am very
pleased to have the support of SGN to help share those
messages, such as check the Gas Safe Register to ensure your
engineer is registered and qualified.”
By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are
taking care of your home and your loved ones. No matter how
big or small every check counts. Here is a guide to some
simple checks that you can do at home:
·
Check that you’ve had an annual gas safety check. Gas
appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced
regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Tenants, make
sure your landlord arranges this.
·
Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered. Always use a Gas
Safe registered engineer and ensure they’re qualified for
the work that needs doing via the Gas Safe Register website
and the engineer’s ID card.
·
Check for warning signs that could indicate your gas
appliances are not working correctly. Signs may include lazy
yellow/orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks
on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going
out, too much condensation in the room, or error messages on
the appliance’s control panel.
·
Check that vents or flues are not blocked. Vents and flues
are there to ensure your gas appliances work safely.
Blocking them could prevent this.
·
Check your knowledge. Remember the six main symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning: headaches, dizziness,
breathlessness, nausea, collapse, and loss of consciousness.
·
Check your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. Regular testing
ensures that alarms are operational and capable of alerting
you to the presence of deadly CO. Also, check they are
marked to standards EN50291 and still in date (if
applicable).
·
Check before doing DIY. Before drilling or hammering, check
that there is no risk of hitting a gas pipe. Never DIY on a
gas appliance; if you suspect there is something wrong with
your appliance or it is not working correctly, call a Gas
Safe registered engineer. You can find one at
GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
Gas Safe Register is the official register for legally
qualified engineers. You can find a registered engineer in
your area by visiting the Gas Safe Register website at
www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or by calling on 0800 408
5500.
Page updated:
Monday February 03, 2025