Gas Safety

Confined spaces pose a significant hazard to workers’ lives. Recently, BBC East Midlands published a story covering a corporate manslaughter trial taking place in Leicester Crown Court. Greenfeeds Limited is charged with two counts of corporate manslaughter after two of its employees, Nathan Walker (19) and Gavin Rawson (35), lost consciousness due to high CO2 concentrations and subsequently drowned inside a tanker.[1] Seven years before this incident in May 2009, two men, Maarten Pieter Den Heijer (30) and Robert MacDonald (45), died as a result of low O2 concentrations beneath the deck of a barge moored on Loch Creran, a sea farm near Oban. Scottish Sea Farms and Logan Inglis were fined £600 000 and £40 000 respectively (these fines were later reduced to £333 335 and £20 000) for breaches of health and safety regulations such as failing to train staff for working in confined spaces like the sealed chambers present on the Loch Creran barge.[2] Approximately 15 people in the UK lose their lives due to accidents in confined spaces; this number includes fatalities resulting from failed rescue attempts.[3] Therefore, it is vital to understand the risks, regulations, procedures, and equipment pertaining to working in confined spaces before you or your employees undertake any work. Thankfully, Crowcon has answered several frequently asked questions about confined spaces using the information outlined in the HSE's (UK) and OSHA's (USA) documentation on the subject.[4] Continue reading →

Unfortunately, there continues to be no shortage of news stories about illegal and dangerous gas work carried out by unregistered, unqualified “gas engineers”. Therefore, it is vital that you stay vigilant and always employ a Gas Safe registered engineer that is qualified to work on your gas appliance and your fuel type. You can find a Gas Safe registered engineer or check your engineers’ credentials on the Gas Safe Register or by calling the free helpline on 0800 408 5500. Additionally, always ask to see your engineer's Gas Safe ID card and make sure you check the back of it for the appliances and gas types they are qualified to work on. Ensuring gas work is carried out by a qualified and gas registered engineer is critical to protecting yourself and your community against potential gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, and explosions. Continue reading →

We are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week, taking place between the 13th and 19th September 2021. Organised by the Gas Safe Register (the official list of gas engineers legally allowed to work on gas), Gas Safety Week aims to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. Continue reading →

Please note this blog was originally published on the 23rd September 2019. It was updated on the 8th September 2021 to contain relevant flue gas analyser models. The Energy Related Products Directive (ErP) reflects the commitment of the European Union to improve air quality. The latest legislation concerning NOx emissions was introduced on the 26th September 2018 to meet EU targets for 2020: Continue reading →

Please note this blog was originally published on the 17th October 2017. It was updated on the 8th September 2021 to include current calibration information. Every plumber and gas engineer knows that when installing gas appliances a flue gas analyser (FGA) is essential! Using an FGA, you can verify that the appliance is working safely and that the installation is not producing dangerous levels of harmful gases that could jeopardise the safety of your clients and their community. That is why proper maintenance and calibration of your FGA is vital to ensuring that this critical part of your job is as accurate as possible. Continue reading →

Please note this blog was originally published on the 11th August 2014. It was updated on the 8th September 2021 to include new information about gas detecting thermal imaging cameras, as well as relevant gas detector, flue gas analyser, and thermal camera models. Detecting gas has come a long way since the Victorian days when miners would use a canary as an early warning indicator of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, or carbon dioxide. Continue reading →

Flue gas analysers have become more popular in recent years with gas and heating engineers. Continue reading →

As part of Gas Safety Week, Which? is asking people around the country to check their boilers, and to check any work carried out on boilers is by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Continue reading →