Fife Council is supporting Gas Safety Week 2021

Fife Council has pledged its support for Gas Safety Week (13 – 19 September 2021) to help raise awareness about the importance of gas safety.

As we celebrate the 11th year of Gas Safety Week, organisations from across the UK are working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

This year, Gas Safety Week is addressing a whole range of gas safety matters for gas users across the country - from advice about how to stay gas safe, to raising awareness of using a registered engineer who is legally qualified, to ensure consumers don’t suffer from the effects of illegal gas work through lack of awareness.

Cllr Judy Hamilton, Convener for Community and Housing Services said: “Gas Safety Week is an annual initiative that the council is pleased to support.  It gives us the opportunity to encourage our tenants to check and make sure gas appliances are safe to use.  We need to stress the dangers and risks unsafe gas work poses and do everything we can to help people stay gas safe. Making sure your gas appliances are safe to use could save your life."

“If you are a Fife Council tenant and receive a letter about your annual Gas Safety Check, please make sure someone is home to give the Engineer access. If the date or time is not suitable, get in touch so another appointment can be arranged to a time that suits you.  Remember, we do this to help ensure your family and home are safe.

“We want everyone to find out when they last had all of their gas appliances, including cookers, fires and boilers checked. If this was over a year ago, you should get them checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer as soon as possible.

Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “It’s great to see so many people supporting Gas Safety Week this year to help share important and, in some cases, lifesaving advice about gas safety. The last year or so has taught us the vital importance of helping and supporting those in our communities. Ensuring people always use a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances in their homes is a great way to show how we can work together to stay gas safe.’’

Keep up to date with Gas Safe Register’s updates and advice throughout Gas Safety Week by following @GasSafeRegister on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and search #GSW21 and #GasSafetyWeek.

To keep you and your family safe, follow Gas Safe Register’s top tips: 

• Know the symptoms of CO poisoning; headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness.
• If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999.

• Never attempt to work on a gas appliance yourself, always seek the help of a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer who can work on your gas cooker, boiler or fire in a safe way.
• Don’t cut corners - only employ a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home.
• Always ask to see your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. Make sure you check the back of the card, which will state which gas appliances they are qualified to work on.

Gas Safe Register is the official register for legally qualified engineers. You can find a registered engineer in your area by visiting the Gas Safe Register website at GasSafeRegister.co.uk.