Gas Safe Register 

Our business is not just to run services more efficiently but to make them work better. In 2009, we won a unique opportunity to help make gas installations safer for everyone in the UK.

In homes and workplaces, unsafe gas work and appliances can seriously injure and kill. Last year alone, 310 people were injured in gas related incidents – through fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – and 18 died. In appointing us to replace the old CORGI gas installer registration scheme ,  the Health and Safety Executive challenged us to help reduce that toll. Our solution is benefiting not only responsible gas engineers but the wider community as well.

What we’ve done

As well as setting up the new Gas Safe Register we launched a programme to educate the public about the dangers of unsafe gas work and CO poisoning. We ran campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of using illegal gas workers, while also making it easy for customers to check whether engineers are registered and what their competencies are. As well as checking qualifications, customers can also see engineers’ photos before they visit – which helps to increase security, especially for vulnerable customers.

To ensure that engineers are working in accordance with industry standards we introduced a stricter, more rigorous inspection regime. And we set up a new helpline to support both customers and engineers.

We will continue to promote gas safety through the new Gas Safe Charity. We’ve commissioned research into ways of reducing CO poisoning and will share our learning through awareness campaigns.

What we’ve achieved

The improved service we provide has been recognised by both customers and the gas industry.

• Within eight weeks of its launch, the Gas Safe Register had 126,000 gas engineers registered – more than the previous scheme ever achieved. This was largely due to the simple and cost-effective registration process and greater public awareness of the register.
• Both customers and the gas industry have praised the new online support and helpline.