Prevention is Better than Cure
GAS EMERGENCY
The National Gas Emergency telephone number is 0800 111 999.
When calling the Gas Emergency Helpline you will be asked a number of questions - see the back of our card for more details.
Don't rely on your memory - keep the gas safety information leaflet in a safe place that you can access quickly in a real emergency.
UNSAFE GAS APPLIANCES IN UK HOMES
A fifth of UK homes have unsafe gas appliances according to the latest inspection figures.
Of 19.452 UK homes inspected between April last year and March 2019, one in five (3,966) were found to have unsafe appliances such as cookers, boilers or fires. [Source: Gas Safe Register]
This follows a reported increase for the number of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning incidents attended by UK Fire and Rescue services. Incidents rose by a third from 2,450 in 2014 to 3.249.
Carbon monoxide is odourless tastless gas that is produced then fuel is not burned properly, usually by badly fitted or poorly maintained appliances. More information on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
A survey for the Gas Safe Register found 92% of careers did not know at least one of the key signs of an unsafe gas appliance.
Are You Gas Safe?
Click on the logo above to check if you are Gas Safe
NATURAL GAS SCRATCH & SNIFF CARD
Following on from previous year's successful Gas Safety Week with many housing groups, almost all UK and Ireland gas distribution networks and Fire & Rescue Services, St Andrew Print has successfully designed and printed natural gas scratch and sniff cards that increases awareness of the gas smell amongst young people, parents and communities.
In the UK, it is assumed that everyone knows the smell of natural gas.
Alarmingly a survey proved this assumption to be incorrect. Everyone should appreciate the consequence of not knowing the smell of natural gas can cause and the devastation it wreaks, as seen in the media recently.
In addition, the survey also showed that 48% of people do not know what action to take in a gas emergency. This is worrying as, according to RIDGAS, in 2017-18 there were 2711 notifications of dangerous gas fittings reported in Great Britain of which 1674 were in rented properties.
Gas leaks are something everyone should take seriously and always use a gas safe engineer for installation and maintenance.
It could be opportune and worthwhile considering utilising an initiative for educations and community safety campaigns with the launch of a card containing the associated pungent smell of natural gas, similar to those issued by the Fire & Rescue Services throughout the USA for school presentations.
In the UK, it is assumed that everyone knows the smell of natural gas. Alarmingly a survey proved this assumption to be incorrect. Everyone should appreciate the consequence of not knowing the smell of natural gas can cause and the devastation it wreaks, as seen in the media recently.
We have produced gas smelling cards for English and Welsh housing groups, who are issuing them to tenants as part of their annual gas maintenance programme.
We have, since 2015, proactively and successfully developed this product that increases awareness of the natural gas smell in the form of a scratch and sniff card.
This card is multifunctional in that it not only contains the gas smell but also important information on actions to take if the smell is detected, Do’s and Don’ts, as questions that will be asked when reporting a potential gas leak and the consequence if ignored.
This gas fragrance is made up of crystals that are encapsulated so every time the card is lightly scratched, the pungent odour of Mercaptan is released.
Consequently, the smell can be retained for years, thereby giving the card a life for people to have handy either on a notice board or affixed to a fridge in case of emergency.
With more children coming home from school to an empty house, the elderly and people entering the country from abroad, it is becoming apparent that gas safety should be acknowledged by all concerned. With our scratch & sniff gas cards enables young people and families to recognise the smell of gas - and how to stay safe if they do notice a dangerous leak.
This technology is not widely available in the UK and we feel would act positively in its distribution to build awareness of the dangers of gas in the public and business domain.
The survey concluded that 100% of people said YES when asked if they would like to receive a gas card.
ILLEGAL FITTERS ENDANGER PUBLIC
Around 1.1 million gas jobs are carried out every year by illegal fitters who aren’t properly qualified, putting householders at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions, a government body has warned.
A study by Gas Safe Register, the nation’s only official gas registration scheme, found that illegal gas fitters installed over 186,000 gas cookers, 147,000 boilers, 75,000 gas fires, 32,000 gas meters and 645,000 gas pipework over one year.
The Gas Safe Register team searched out rogue fitters and investigated almost 5,000 illegal gas jobs in recent years, finding that 3 in 5 were in an unsafe condition. A worrying 1 in 5 were deemed to be so dangerous that the appliance had to be disconnected immediately.
FATAL GAS EXPLOSION
A gas explosion that killed a man, demolished a house and damaged several other nearby properties was potentially triggered when the home owner used an electrical switch.
It is believed Paul Wilmott, 63, became desensitised to the smell of gas before the explosion caused by a badly corruded and fractured gas pipe.
The tragic incident occurred in Haxby, near York, on the 19th February 2016.
Drone video footage of the tragic aftermath is below.
HOW WE HELP YOU
St Andrew Print are scratch and sniff specialist printers who collaborate with leading consultants having expertise in illegal drugs, health & wellbeing and community safety.
We can produce our natural gas awareness cards to a customised design and bespoke size to meet client’s corporate guidelines.
Our graphic design team will work closely with your marketing people to produce a design that is in keeping with your corporate image and to the highest quality printing standards.
To assist charities and non-profit organisations, we can offer a free print design service.
Prevention is Better than Cure