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.
If you have boiler cover, which you can sometimes acquire from your energy supplier, alongside your gas and electricity tariff, the annual servicing of your boiler, which normally costs £80, may be covered. If you’re a landlord, you’re required by law to have all gas appliances supplied by you to be safety checked annually by a registered engineer. Pipework and flues should also be inspected. If you’re a tenant, you should receive a record of the annual gas safety checks on the property, known as the the Landlord Gas Safety record, at the start of your tenancy, and within 28 days of any new check.
Statutory Instrument 2000 No. 128: The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 requires equipment to be examined regularly. HSE has advised owners and users of portable oxy-fuel welding and cutting sets that Written Schemes of Examination (Report of Thorough Examination) are not required. However, HSE emphasises that, although gas welding sets are not considered to pose a risk from the release of stored energy, they do pose a risk of fire or explosion if they are not assembled, operated or maintained correctly. See more info at https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/welding-equipment/cp7-cp47-gas-equipment-safety-inspections.html.
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.