Date: 2007-02-09
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You might hand over the keys to your property but you don't hand over responsibility for your tenants' safety, especially when it comes to gas and carbon monoxide poisoning. That's the clear message to be delivered to local landlords via one of the free sessions being offered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Calderdale Council as part of their groundbreaking new initiative - Calderdale Safer Working Communities - which takes place from 26 February to 2 March. The recent death of two young children on holiday in Corfu has brought carbon monoxide poisoning into the headlines again but every year around 30 people around the country die as a result of poorly installed or maintained gas appliances and flues, and many others suffer ill health.
(Media-Newswire.com) - You might hand over the keys to your property but you don't hand over responsibility for your tenants' safety, especially when it comes to gas and carbon monoxide poisoning.
That's the clear message to be delivered to local landlords via one of the free sessions being offered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Calderdale Council as part of their groundbreaking new initiative - Calderdale Safer Working Communities - which takes place from 26 February to 2 March.
The recent death of two young children on holiday in Corfu has brought carbon monoxide poisoning into the headlines again but every year around 30 people around the country die as a result of poorly installed or maintained gas appliances and flues, and many others suffer ill health.
The stakes are high - after all Calderdale has more than 22,000 homes in its private rented sector. Landlords will be told that if they rent out accommodation, then it is up to them to make sure its gas fittings are safely maintained. Ignorance or lack of funds are no excuse - landlords have a legal duty to have all fitments checked for safety every 12 months by a CORGI registered installer, and they must keep a record of each safety check for at least two years.
Stacey Rodgers knows the harsh reality behind the statistics all too well. She is the mother of 10 year old Dominic Rodgers of Fartown, Huddersfield, who died tragically three years ago as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. An active gas safety campaigner, Stacey has already taken her message to Whitehall and is now backing Calderdale's initiative by addressing landlords from the private-sector, many of whose tenants are amongst the most vulnerable in the community. (more/......)
CORGI inspector John Kirkland will be outlining the dangers and landlords' responsibilities, explaining how to fill in landlord's safety certificates correctly, and the legal requirement for all installers to be CORGI registered.
Also speaking will be Andrew Bibby of West Yorkshire Trading Standards who will outline safety requirements for furniture and furnishings, and Bob Pulford, Calderdale Council Senior Environmental Health Officer, will talk about the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) including fire safety, a new risk assessment tool introduced last year to assess potential risks to occupants in residential properties.
HSE Principal Inspector David Powell says:
"HSE gives gas safety a high priority. Any landlord that ignores the regulations is both putting lives at risk and breaking the law. You can't see it, taste it, or smell it, but carbon monoxide can kill without warning in just a matter of hours so if you are a landlord, you bear a heavy responsibility, both legally and morally."
By law landlords must:
* Ensure all installation pipe work, appliances, and flues provided is safely maintained
* Make sure an annual safety check is carried out on each appliance and/or flue provided
* Keep a record of each safety check for two years and issue a copy to your tenant before they move in or as each check is completed
* Ensure any gas equipment left by previous tenants is safe or otherwise removed
* Establish clear lines of responsibility for safety checks etc with any managing agent employed
* Use only CORGI registered installers.
The danger signs to look out for on boilers, fires and cookers include:
* Yellow or orange flames (except for fuel effect fires which display this colour flame)
* Soot or stains around the appliance
* A pilot light that frequently blows out.
Approved carbon monoxide detectors are strongly recommended, although these must not be used as a substitute for regular checks and servicing by a CORGI-registered installer.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include tiredness, drowsiness, headaches and breathlessness. Anyone who thinks carbon monoxide may be causing them problems should seek urgent advice.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For further information or to book a place on the free session "Health and Safety in Private Rented Accommodation", contact Calderdale MBC Environmental Health Services on 01422 392320 or 01422 392344 or email: environmental.health@calderdale.gov.uk
2. For further information on gas safety call HSE's Gas Safety Advice Line 0800 300363 or visit the HSE website http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/index.htm
3. To find a CORGI-registered installer call 0870 401 2300, or visit http://www.trustcorgi.com
4. Gas companies offer certain vulnerable groups a free annual gas safety check of gas appliances. More details are available from Energy Watch 0845 906 0708 or at http://www.energywatch.org.uk
Issued on behalf of Calderdale MBC and HSE by GNN Yorkshire and the Humber.
Client ref YH/46/07
GNN ref 143796P