SGN Natural Gas supports Gas Safety Week 2019

SGN Natural Gas has pledged their support for Gas Safety Week (16th-22nd September 2019) as part the company’s ongoing commitment to raise awareness about the importance of gas safety.

The ninth annual Gas Safety Week sees organisations from across the UK 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 range of gas safety matters with a focus on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable. Advice includes how to keep vulnerable loved ones gas safe by raising awareness of the importance of using a gas safe registered engineer who is legally qualified to carry out work in your home.

Dominic Scullion, Safety, Health and Environment Manager with SGN Natural Gas, said: “Gas Safety Week is a key public awareness campaign we wholeheartedly support as safety is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to protecting the safety of the public and of those who work for us and with us, and we do so by using the best technology available.”

SGN Natural Gas recently hosted a Carbon Monoxide Awareness workshop ‘Think CO’, which was attended by representatives of a number of key organisations within the western area and offered free, local training to staff and volunteers from the public and voluntary & community sectors, as well as private companies such as home care agencies.

Dominic said: “CO is a highly poisonous gas that is produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels including gas, oil, wood, petrol and coal. We constantly encourage people to do all they can to protect themselves from the dangers of CO poisoning, including always using a gas safe registered engineer to fit or check any household appliance that uses gas, as well as fitting and maintaining a working CO alarm.”

SGN Natural Gas also brings their gas safety awareness roadshow to schools across their network area which includes Strabane, Omagh, Dungannon, Cookstown, Coalisland, Enniskillen, Derrylin and Magherafelt.

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 spread important and, in some cases, lifesaving advice about gas safety. It’s so vital that we help people to know not to cut corners with gas and always ask a suitably qualified gas safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances at their home to stay gas safe.”

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 002 001.
• 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.

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 #GSW19.

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 www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or by calling on 0800 408 5500.