The Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 is the primary piece of legislation covering work-related health and safety in Northern Ireland. It sets out a lot of your employer’s responsibilities for your health and safety at work. Additionally, specific regulations cover particular areas, including lead, asbestos, chemicals, construction work, and gas safety. Visit the HSENI website for the many ways in which they can help you with these particular issues.

When engaging an engineer to fit, fix, or service gas appliances, you should ensure that person, and their employer, is on the register. You can consult the register online or contact them via phone on 0800 408 5500. You should also ask any engineer to show you their Gas Safe Register identity card. Check both sides: the front will show a photograph of the engineer, a registration number you can verify online, and an expiry date. The reverse will list the categories of work the engineer is qualified to undertake-for example, on boilers, cookers, and gas fires. It’s important to note that not all engineers will be qualified for all types of gas work.

As an employer or person of responsibility, it is vital that you understand the obligations you have and how to comply with them. To help you achieve this, our trained Inspectors can carry out rigorous checks on your gas equipment and supply a Report of Thorough Examination, which provides written evidence that you are proactively following H&SE requirements, and a certificate will be issued when the equipment is compliant. See extra info at CP7 Gas Inspections.

What happens during a service? The exact details of what will happen during your gas service will vary depending on the appliance or installation being serviced. However, as a rough guide, most services will include the following: Check that the appliance is in full working order. Check that the appliance is operating safely. Inspection of the condition of the main components. Check the gas pressure. Check for corrosion or leaks. Cleaning of parts if needed.