The Importance of Gas Safety
Thank you to the 99.5% of Sutton Housing Partnership’s tenants who had their annual gas service and safety check carried out by Smith & Byford, our servicing contractor.
SHP takes gas safety very seriously. Last year:

• 43 tenants had legal action commenced against them, for not allowing Smith & Byford access to their homes;
• 9 tenants, who still failed to provide access despite contact from our Solicitors, were required to attend Court;
• 3 tenants were made subject to an injunction, which allows SHP to force entry into a property in order to carry out the gas service;
• SHP were awarded an average of £476.67 in costs for each case taken to court. Every tenant taken to court is required to pay the costs awarded.

“It’s a very important issue”, explained SHP’s Director of Property Services Sara Tutton. “Every unchecked gas appliance is a serious danger to the tenant, to their family, and to their neighbours.”
Over the past 10 years in the UK, there have been over 300 deaths resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosions. Because carbon monoxide is invisible and odourless, it is known as the Silent Killer, the old and the very young being most at risk.
The annual gas service and safety check is free of charge to SHP tenants.
Please allow Smith & Byford access to your property

Carbon Monoxide Kills 

Understand the risks and learn how to protect your family.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer. It can infiltrate your home through the most apparently harmless devices, like your boiler or cooker. It is impossible to see or smell, yet it is easy to protect yourself and your family from the risks.
A few simple steps, including an annual gas safety check with a CORGI registered installer, could prevent needless deaths or illness as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

For more information, CORGI has produced two free downloads:

• CORGI's carbon monoxide leaflet 
• CORGI's carbon monoxide fact sheet

We also recommend that you click on one of the links below to find out more:

• What Is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas and has no colour, taste or smell.
• How do I recognise the symptoms? Recognising the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning will save your life.
• How can I spot the signs of carbon monoxide in my home? You can tell if your gas appliance is working correctly by observing...
• Do I need a carbon monoxide alarm? An audible alarm could save your life.
• Buy a carbon monoxide alarm from CORGI. For just £22.77 (including VAT) you can protect yourself and your family.
• Am I at risk on holiday? There are a number of things that you can do to keep you and your family safe while on holiday.
• Read the CORGI carbon monoxide report Find out about the geographical areas and groups of people who are most vulnerable to carbon monoxide exposure.

Get Your Appliances Safety Checked Every Year 

Appliances that are properly installed, serviced and adequately ventilated are efficient and safe. To avoid the accidental production of carbon monoxide and to ensure that you and your family are safe, you must:

• Get your gas appliances checked annually by a CORGI registered Installer.
• Make sure rooms and heaters are well ventilated.
• Have your chimneys and flues checked regularly.
• Buy a carbon Monoxide Alarm. A carbon monoxide alarm will measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in a room and sound an alarm if the concentration is higher than permitted. 

You must have your gas appliances safety-checked by a CORGI registered installer every year. We use our gas servicing contractor Smith & Byford (0800 389 0867) to do this. This is the only way to guarantee that they are working correctly. Never allow anyone without a valid CORGI registration number to work on any of your gas appliances.
The majority of work carried out by illegal gas workers has been found to have serious safety defects. By using a trades person who is not CORGI registered, you are literally taking your life in your own hands.
Remember: CORGI registration does not automatically cover all areas of gas work. Most installers specialise in one or more areas, so check that they are qualified to carry out the work you are asking them to do (for example, fitting a boiler or a new fire). You can check with CORGI’s customer services team or look on the back of the installer’s ID card.

True Stories of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 

CORGI has worked with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to produce a series of videos that illustrate different circumstances in which carbon monoxide may prove fatal.
To view these films, simply click on the links below. Please note: these are very large files and, depending on the speed of your connection, may take some time to download.

1. A faulty boiler leaking carbon monoxide has killed a student.
2. A party guest felt ill when sitting near her friends.  The flue was blocked by leaves, twigs and two dead crows!.
3. Linda Prophet was hospitalised after her boiler poisoned her in her own home.
4. An incorrectly fitted gas fire leaked carbon monoxide killing a 17- year-old boy.
5. A young boy died when Carbon Monoxide fumes leaked into his bedroom from a faulty flue outside the house.

If you are a victim or know someone that has been affected by carbon monoxide poisoning, you may find it useful to contact one of the following support groups:

• CO-Gas Safety   The Carbon Monoxide & Gas Safety Society (CO-Gas Safety) is an independent charity committed to reducing accidents from carbon monoxide, as well as other gas dangers worldwide, and supporting gas-related accident victims.
• CO-Awareness   An organisation that supports victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, their families and friends.

Other Contacts

• find an installer to check out your appliances.
• www.gas-guide.org.uk provides background info and gas tips
• www.britishgassafety.co.uk includes a test on household safety
  

ARE YOU SAFE?   Book Your Gas Safety Check On 0800 389 0867!!!