Gas Safety
Gas Wise Initiative
Many work premises throughout Northern Ireland use gas (either piped or tanked) for heating or cooking. When safely installed, regularly maintained and used properly, gas installations and appliances pose few risks. However, if gas is not managed properly, the risk of fire, an explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning is greatly increased.
A number of serious incidents involving gas have occurred in Northern Ireland including the following examples:
· In Strabane a large section of the town centre was cordoned off by the emergency services for a number of hours while they investigated a gas leak at a takeaway.
· In Derry a gas explosion at a takeaway resulted in the building being completely destroyed and serious damage being caused to two adjacent buildings. All three building had to be completely demolished as a result of the gas explosion. Thankfully no one was injured but the potential for loss of life in such circumstances is great.
The risks associated with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Natural Gas can be properly managed if employers make sure they take the proper safety measures.
The main hazards associated with the use of gas are explosion, fire and carbon monoxide poisoning which may lead to serious injury, ill health and even death, and because gas explosions are extremely violent, many people may be affected and damage to property may be considerable.
The initiative is being promoted during our visits to premises licensed for entertainment and food businesses within the district. Premises will be asked for proof that their gas installation has been inspected by a CORGI registered installer. Where serious contraventions are detected the gas installation will be subject to either Improvement or Prohibition Notice procedures.
Employers and landlords are advised to be 'WISE' about the safety of their gas system, which is fundamental to the message 'GAS Wise'. Therefore, employers and landlords must ensure that:
W - work on gas systems should only be undertaken by appropriately registered CORGI installers
I - instruct staff on how to operate equipment correctly and safely
S - service appliances in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
E - ensure adequate ventilation in premises at all times.
Duties - The laws relating to gas safety apply to work places as well as the home.
Employers and the Self-Employed have a statutory duty to ensure that the gas system they use has been installed by a competent person, is being used safely and is properly maintained.
In accordance with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations only appropriately registered CORGI installers* are permitted to undertake work on any gas system. They take reasonable steps to ensure that the person undertaking such work is an appropriately registered CORGI installer.
Landlords have duties under the regulations. In many occasions these apply to domestic situations.
However, landlords who provide gas equipment/system to an employer within a relevant workplace setting will also be covered. An example of one such scenario may be a landlord of a public house who leases out the kitchen, including the gas system and gas appliances, to a caterer. In this scenario, the landlord and the employer will have legal duties.
Duties of a landlord include:
- Ensuring gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition,
- Ensuring an annual safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue,
- Having all installation, maintenance and safety checks carried out by an appropriately registered CORGI installer,
- Keeping a record of each safety check.
* Appropriately Registered CORGI Installer - Check that the company/fitter(s) who are to carryout the work on the gas system have the current appropriate level of registration with CORGI to carryout the specific work required, e.g. - non-domestic catering etc.
Further information
To find out further information on CORGI or to find out contact details for a local CORGI installer look up:
