The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) has pledged its support to this year’s Gas Safety Week whilst revealing alarming research figures regarding the awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Organised by Gas Safe Register, the seventh annual Gas Safety Week is taking place between 18th and 24th September and aims to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
John Thompson, CEO at APHC commented: “As the plumbing and heating industry’s largest employer’s trade association we actively promote gas safety and we believe it is important that we support Gas Safety Week. When I last checked, APHC is just one of around 7,000 companies and organisations who have pledged their support. Whilst it is great to see this level of support and I hope this year’s campaign makes a positive contribution in protecting the safety of the public, I know from our own research there is still more work to do.
“Our research found that 39 per cent of households don’t have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted in their homes with another 34 per cent having rooms that contain either a gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliance that doesn’t also have a carbon monoxide alarm fitted.”
APHC’s research also found that 37 per cent of householders didn’t know that it is advisable, and in some cases that it is a legal requirement, for a carbon monoxide alarm to be fitted in each room where there is a gas, oil or solid fuel burning appliance.
APHC has been vocal in wanting to improve gas safety and just recently its President called for greater enforcement action in penalising those responsible for dangerous gas work and further legislation banning these individuals from re-registering on the Gas Safe Register.
As previously reported, APHC is hosting a set of regional workshops with Gas Safe and Baxi. “With the recent HSE Decade Review around gas safety and the launch of the re-tendering process to operate the Gas Safe Register, these events will provide an insightful opportunity to not only hear from the current operator, Capita, but to also pose questions directly to them,” John Thompson added.
The half day morning events will run on the following dates:
5 October, Leicester
9 October, Leeds
17 October, Newport
18 October, Exeter
19 October, Dartford
30 October, North Wales
To book a place or to find out more, readers can contact APHC directly on 0121 711 5030 or they can email [email protected]
To find out about Gas Safety Week 2017, visit: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek
