The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC) has pledged its support for Gas Safety Week 2016 – the sixth annual campaign coordinated by the Gas Safe Register.

Running from 19 to 25 September, Gas Safety Week aims to bring the whole plumbing industry together to remind people of the importance of gas safety and will be providing tips for improving safety and reducing cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.

As part of the campaign, Gas Safe Register is providing consumers with the following six safety tips for staying safe and warm in their homes:

  • Only use a Gas Safe Registered engineer to fix, fit and service gas appliances
  • Check both sides of an engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card to make sure they are qualified for the work that needs doing. This information can be found on the back of the card
  • Have all gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked every year. Consumers in rented accommodation should ask their landlord for a copy of the current Gas Safety record
  • Know the six signs of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness. Unsafe gas appliances can put people at risk of CO poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions
  • Check gas appliances for warnings that they are not working properly, such as lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks/stains on or around the appliance, or too much condensation in the room
  • Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm, which will sound an alarm if CO is dedicated.

John Thompson, chief executive at APHC, said: "We are proud once again to be supporting Gas Safety Week, with its important aim of protecting members of the public from the silent killer, carbon monoxide. In relation to this important area, we also welcome recent MP campaigning for CO alarms in all rented UK properties, with recent research indicating that around 50 people each year still die of CO poisoning."

For more information on Gas Safety Week, or to find out how you can get involved, visit https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gassafetyweek.