Gas Safety (Installation & use) Act 1998

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Act 1998 is there for every gas users protection and lays down quite clearly what we in the trade can and cannot do. It is now the individual service engineers responsibility to carry out his work according to this legislation. He cannot, by law, leave appliances, equipment or pipe-work in an unsafe condition.

Gas operatives are all trained in each part of the industry they work in and are tested every 5 years to prove their competency. When an operative applies for competency he has to pass a test in all aspects of the Gas Industry he works in e.g. domestic boilers, domestic gas safety, industrial gas safety, propane and many more all of which will be listed on his registration card. The pass rate for registration is 100%.

No other industry or profession, including doctors, has to prove its competency to such a high degree.

For your safety check an engineer's credentials and make sure he is fully approved to work on your equipment. Remember that just because an engineer can work on a small domestic boiler he may not be registered to work on the factory heater.

If you have any doubts regarding the suitability or credibility of any registration card please ring CORGI Registration Enquiries on 01256 372499.

Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry or OFTEC

OFTEC was launched in April 1991 to construct a frame work which oil firing in the United Kingdom and Ireland could operate with a greater degree of safety, expertise and efficiency. One of its first priorities was set up a system of training and registration for service engineers engaged in commissioning, servicing, installation and plant operation with oil firing equipment.

OFTEC tests and approves oil firing equipment and represents the industry in discussions with regulatory agencies.

OFTEC's codes of practice set standards for the industry which are followed by its members and registered service engineers or technicians.

Bailey-Johns (PHL) Ltd is a member of OFTEC and all the engineers engaged in oil service work are trained and registered by OFTEC. Please ask to see our engineers OFTEC identity card.

The address for OFTEC is

Century House
100, High Street
Banstead
Surry SM7 2NN

CO Carbon Monoxide the Silent Killer

Carbon Monoxide is a deadly poisonous gas produced by the incomplete combustion of all fossil fuels.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning are:
Drowsiness, weakness, headaches, impaired concentration and pains in the chest.
The above symptoms can often be mistaken by doctors for other illnesses. Sometimes the symptoms are on going and the affects can build up in the body.
Regular servicing of gas appliances greatly reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. Prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of Carbon Monoxide can cause irreversible brain damage. Do not fall asleep in a room with a gas fire unless you are sure that it is fully safe and well serviced. Any yellow flames or sooty marks are a sure sign of problems.

Safety Policy

Bailey-Johns operates its own safety policy but respectfully reminds customers that they have a duty of care towards all visitors to their site and it is the customers responsibility to introduce all visitors to their site and warn them of any potential hazards or special safety requirements.

Bailey-Johns reserve the right not to work in any area they deem to be to dangerous or work on any equipment that contains any unidentifiable substances.

All Bailey-Johns operatives have their own personal safety equipment which is always worn when appropriate and includes:

Safety Shoes
Safety Glasses
Safety Helmet
Ear Plugs
Rubber and Leather gloves
Safety Harness and landyard
High visibility jackets
Disposable overalls
Dust and particle masks

Company Manager's Duties

Any company owning or renting a gas fired appliance has a duty under the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Act 1998 and the Health & Safety at Work Act to ensure that all gas equipment is maintained on an annual basis by a suitable qualified and approved person holding current certification for the areas of work he is going to cover.

It is therefore important that when you have work done on your Gas installation you ensure that the service engineer is suitably qualified by asking to see his CORGI registration card:-

Check the expiry date then check on the back of the card that the engineer is cleared to work on the type of installation you have. If you have a commercial or industrial premises anyone working on that system must be cleared for NON-DOMESTIC work.

Make sure you file away all job sheets and reports issued by the service engineer and act responsibly to any recommendations he makes.