Lives are being put at risk and money is being wasted due to homeowners not checking whether their tradespeople are working legally according to a recent Gas Safety Register survey.
The survey of 2,000 homeowners revealed some shocking results, including that one in six people would knowingly hire an illegal gas fitter if they came recommended. It was also revealed that 28% of the recipients had gas work carried out in the last year and failed to check whether the engineer was legal and on the Gas Safe Register.
It was also clear that the cost of employing an engineer plays an important role in hiring than safety, with 41% wrongly believing that an illegal gas fitter is cheaper than a registered engineer.
A typical Gas Safe ID Card. Image: Gas Safe Register
In the last three years there have been 20 deaths and nearly 1,000 gas related injuries, and it’s estimated that a quarter of a million gas jobs are carried out every year. Gas Safe Register also discovered that nine in 10 illegal gas jobs were not completed to the correct standard, with one in five being so bad that immediate action was required to avoid a gas explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is clear that homeowners want to trust who they’ve hired and that asking for ID can feel uncomfortable, but if the engineer is fully qualified he or she should have no problem in providing you with this information.
If you suspect any illegal gas work you can call 0800 408 5500 anonymously. You can also read our guide on how to check if your engineer is qualified.
