The partners behind Gas Safety Week, taking place on 11-17th September have underlined the essential role of installers and other ‘trusted intermediaries’ in keeping the public safe as they prepare to host a wide range of events up and down the country.
Next week’s theme is diversity and Jonathan Samuel, CEO of the Gas Safe Register, promised the unveiling of new creative ways to highlight this message to consumers. He noted that there are now 152,000 installers registered Gas Safe.
At the launch event in Parliament, Barry Sheerman MP, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG) emphasised the importance of meeting a shifting safety challenge with CO, particularly in a cost of living crisis.
He said:
The challenges with this silent killer shifts and change and we have to be abreast of this…when people are desperate for heat they may do something ‘silly’ like drag out an old heater that might not be safe. So this is a call to arms that we could have a bad winter and so we all need to be alert and raise our game.
Hilary Bath of the Gas Safe Charity told the audience how its Think CO campaign was being taken to the wider public, with training for ‘trusted intermediaries’ who could visit homeowners. These intermediaries can include everyone from fire service assessors to housing association staff, she said.
The charity is particularly focusing on low-level CO poisoning and has recently developed Hindi and Bangla language videos and is working with learning disabled and, this year, traveller and carer communities.
Lily Clarke, a Gas Safe registered engineer for the last 13 years, who will be appearing in the promotional campaign next week, described her vision for enthusing school leavers on the value of careers in plumbing and heating. She said:
There is currently 3% female representation. Now is the time for change. I want to help change perceptions and show that girls can do the manual jobs too.
A toolkit for Gas Safety Week is available to download from the website.
