The recent news of a West Midlands man being jailed for carrying out illegal and unsafe gas work has once again highlighted the importance and essential role the Gas Safe Register holds in the construction industry.
The man carried out repeated illegal works during 2020 and 2021, falsely advertising himself as a member of the Gas Safe Register. Official Gas Safe Register inspectors who checked the work found it to be unsafe and left in a condition of being ‘immediately dangerous’ or ‘at risk’, therefore endangering the safety of occupiers.
The importance of quality gas training
The consequences of unsafe gas work can be potentially fatal. All engineers should complete their training with an accredited and trusted provider. When searching for a course, check for accreditation from City & Guilds, BPEC and the Gas Safe Register to ensure it meets the necessary high standards of the industry.
Along with high-quality training, all engineers must complete a portfolio of gas work while under the supervision of a qualified engineer. Following this, trainee engineers must also complete an Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) assessment. This examination tests both the practical and theoretical knowledge of an engineer and is a mandatory requirement for joining the Gas Safe Register.
It’s also vital that an engineer’s Gas Safe Registration is up to date. Registrations must be renewed every 12 months — to be eligible for renewal engineers must ensure that their qualifications are up to date and valid for the kind of work they plan to carry out.
What steps can people take to ensure their engineer is Gas Safe registered?
While the primary responsibility, of course, lies with engineers to ensure they hold all the necessary qualifications and registrations, there are steps that customers can take to ensure the engineer they have hired is fit to carry out work.
The Gas Safe Register allows anyone to search its database for engineers or businesses that are currently registered and therefore legally able to carry out gas work. This database can also be split into those qualified to carry out either domestic or commercial gas work.
Registered engineers should also have no issue with showing their Gas Safe ID card which contains a 7-digit licence number. This number can be verified using the Gas Safe Register’s ‘check’ option here.
The Gas Safe Register estimates that two-thirds of illegal gas work is found to be unsafe by its inspectors. As well as being dangerous, any work carried out by a non-registered engineer could invalidate the warranty of both the gas appliance and home insurance.