Avoiding Unsafe Gas Work
There have been many stories in the newspapers surrounding the tragic consequences of unsafe gas work. There have been reports of people suffering from brain damage and paralysis from carbon monoxide exposure. Often this would be a result from faulty fitted or badly repaired gas appliances. Unfortunately the sting in the tale is that most of these tragedies could have been prevented, had the correct safety measures been in place.
The purpose behind the Gas Safe Register
The public needs to be protected from unsafe gas work and this is the sole purpose behind the register. It works in keeping track of any reports detailing faulty appliances or repairs which threaten gas safety and these reports are taken very seriously.
It is generally expected that the Gas Safe registered firms should take gas safety very seriously, and as part of the rules of registration, they are responsible in rectifying any faults reported by a customer. As most businesses owe a duty of care to their customers, they will be quick in taking action. The consequences of not doing so will be far worse for the business as the sanction against a firm can include suspension of their registration or even complete removal from the Register.
It is important to note that most businesses are very dedicated and honest in their approach by sticking to the law. They invest quite a bit of time, funds, and training into their registration, therefore they may feel it’s unfair when it comes to complaints from customers.
Nonetheless, public safety comes first, and therefore substandard levels of gas work are unacceptable. A great effort is made to strike a balance between taking care of customer’s needs whilst treating registered engineers with fairness and respect.
In many cases the complaints can be unfounded. This is why it is essential to keep the communication open between the customer and the business so that the customer can complain to the business when they are not happy with the gas work.
Maintaining the right balance
The Gas Safe Register is responsible for ensuring that the businesses are treated fairly whilst maintaining public safety. To demonstrate its fairness policy, as part of the investigation process, the Gas Safe Register invites businesses to participate too. This has many beneficial aspects. It allows to business to amend its ways and put things right. In addition, it allows the business to learn from the mistake to avoid future problems. It also gives the business the opportunity to maintain good customer relations.
If it is brought to the attention that the work was carried out by an incompetent or unregistered person, then this will call for immediate inspection and the information will be passed on to the Health and Safety Executive.
To ensure safety, it is necessary that when a defect notice is issued, the business takes the responsibility of completing the rectification work within the deadline specified by the Gas Safety Register. If for some reason the business fails to carry out the remedial work, then it should make alternative arrangements with the customer for another registered business to do it.
