When your boiler breaks down and there’s no hot water, you wouldn’t think twice about calling a gas engineer. But how often do you check they’re qualified as gas safe before you let them into your home and start work?
Research has discovered that three in five people fail to check the gas engineer they’ve called is gas safe registered.
Naturally, you’re likely to assume that someone marketing themselves as a gas engineer would be fully qualified. However, that might not always be the case.
This worrying figure means that 60% of people are putting themselves, their families and their neighbours in harm’s way. This could be anything from gas leaks and fires to explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Don’t cut corners when it comes to gas safety.
Always check that your gas engineer is on the Gas Safe Register by remembering to check their Gas Safe ID card on the front and back before letting them into your home to ensure they’re qualified to work on your gas appliances.”
Jonathan Samuel, chief executive, Gas Safe Register
It has been suggested that gas engineers are deemed more trustworthy than those in other trades.
Such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters, meaning they get away without showing ID more often.
Personal presentation and how official a person looks is one leading factor creating trust between a tradesperson and a client, along with body language, personality a generally friendly face. However, none of these factors proves someone is trustworthy or, more importantly, gas safe.
Stay Gas Safe
- Never attempt to work on gas appliances yourself – leave it to the professionals.
- Only employ people you know to be suitably qualified as a gas safe engineers.
- Ask to see their ID card. Check the back of the card for what gas appliances they are qualified to work on.
- If you’re suspicious of an illegal fitter, report them to Gas Safe Register – 0800 408 5500.
- Be aware of and able to spot the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
- If you smell gas, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999.
Working as a gas engineer is a serious job, and people must be fully qualified. Here at Options Skills, we offer gas engineer training courses that take students through all the crucial steps to becoming competent and qualified gas engineers, including gaining their gas safe ID card.
