You also have responsibilities for your own health and safety at work. You can refuse to do something that isn’t safe without being threatened with disciplinary action. If you think your employer isn’t meeting their responsibilities, talk to them first. Your safety representative or a trade union official may be able to help you with this. As a last resort, you may need to report your employer to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland or to the environmental health department of your local authority.
Britons collectively used 1,233 ktoe (kilotonne of oil equivalent) of gas in their homes in 2017. 85% of us heat our homes with gas-powered boilers, which also heat water, and most of us it to cook meals: while just 30% of us have gas ovens, 61% have gas hobs. And while accidents are rare, they can be dangerous. Gas leaks can cause injuries, as well as explosions and fires which can destroy homes, cause serious injuries and claim lives.
DSEAR Regs (Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmosphere Regulations) 2002 (SI 2002 No.2776) employers must put control measures in place to eliminate risks from dangerous substances or reduce them as far as is reasonably practicable. This includes maintenance of equipment and fitting of flashback arrestors. The Acetylene Safety (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations require that all mobile systems shall be fitted with a purpose designed regulator for acetylene, a flashback arrestor incorporating a non-return valve and a pressure and/or temperature sensitive cut-off valve. When using acetylene, you must ensure that these legal obligations are met. See extra details at CP7 Gas Checks.
If there is any doubt in your mind about whether a gas appliance is working properly or not, then you should refrain from using it until it has been properly Every 12 months you should have your gas appliances safety checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that they are operating efficiently and safely. What to do if you smell gas: Smelling gas in your home can be alarming and should be dealt with immediately, so it’s important that everyone in your household is aware of the steps that should be taken in the event of a potential gas leak. Taking immediate action can help to avoid a potentially devastating situation.