GLOBAL HEATING SERVICES

Safety Issues

Gas Safety (Installation & use) Act 1998

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Act 1998 is there for every gas users protection and lays down quite clearly what we in the trade can and cannot do. It is now the individual service engineers responsibility to carry out his work according to this legislation. He cannot, by law, leave appliances, equipment or pipe-work in an unsafe condition.

Gas operatives are all trained in each part of the industry they work in and are tested every 5 years to prove their competency. When an operative applies for competency he has to pass a test in all aspects of the Gas Industry he works in e.g. domestic boilers, domestic gas safety, industrial gas safety, propane and many more all of which will be listed on his registration card. The pass rate for registration is 100%.

No other industry or profession, including doctors, has to prove its competency to such a high degree.

For your safety check an engineer's credentials and make sure he is fully approved to work on your equipment. Remember that just because an engineer can work on a small domestic boiler he may not be registered to work on the factory heater.

If you have any doubts regarding the suitability or credibility of any registration card please ring CORGI Registration Enquiries on 01256 372499.

Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry or OFTEC

OFTEC was launched in April 1991 to construct a frame work which oil firing in the United Kingdom and Ireland could operate with a greater degree of safety, expertise and efficiency. One of its first priorities was set up a system of training and registration for service engineers engaged in commissioning, servicing, installation and plant operation with oil firing equipment.

OFTEC tests and approves oil firing equipment and represents the industry in discussions with regulatory agencies.

OFTEC's codes of practice set standards for the industry which are followed by its members and registered service engineers or technicians.

Global heating services  is a member of OFTEC and all the engineers engaged in oil service work are trained and registered by OFTEC. Please ask to see our engineers OFTEC identity card.

The address for OFTEC is

Century House
100, High Street
Banstead
Surry SM7 2NN

Method Statement

We will always provide, if requested so to do, a method statement tailor made for the job in hand and breaking the job down into logical areas e.g. hot work, high work. Standard Sample are shown.

Sample Method Statement

Servicing of Combustion Plant
(including boilers and warm air heaters)

1) On arrival to site check in with responsible person, identify self and if required sign in. Make sure that a vehicle can safely be taken on site.
Safety Risk Low.

2) Ascertain from responsible person the following information

Position of appliance to be worked on.
What the fire procedures for the site are.
Inform responsible person that we will conform to all their safety procedures which we assume to be at least equal to our Safety Statement.
If there are any particular safety requirements for the site
b) Site hazards
c) Site chemical hazards including asbestos
Safety Risk Low.

3) At the appliance site assess any immediate hazards before work commences.
Are areas of work clear?
Any immediate danger from surrounding working environment?
Check for service isolation points. (fuel and electric).
Ascertain the position of the nearest Fire extinguishers.
Ascertain that exits for the appliance area are clear.
Safety Risk Low.

4) Carry out service as per appropriate appliance service specification.
Procedures to be done in conjunction with the Gas Safety ( Installation & Use) Act 1998 and subsequent adjustments, OFTEC procedures and Codes of good Practice.
Safety Risk Medium.

5) Completing of work checks
Remove all arisings from site and dispose of safely and correctly.
Make sure all service connections are re made and tested as sound.
Check settings of all controls relevant to work carried out.
Ascertain that the appliance is running correctly. Check background CO levels.
Fill in paperwork noting all relevant details of work done, work required and appliance state.
Safety Risk Low.

6) Report to responsible person and get job sheets signed.
If required sign out.
Safety Risk Low.

Method Statement

High level works

1) We reserve the right on all jobs to hire, and charge as an extra to the contract, any form of hydraulic access platform that we deem to be necessary for the safety of the site in general.

2) Before high level work commences we will discuss the full implications with the customers site manager and agree on the correct procedure to adopt.

3) All areas before our high level work area will be cordoned off with RED & WHITE warning tape. This area will be out of bounds for everyone unless permission to enter is obtained from our operatives. Safety shoes and hard hats will be worn at all times in this area.

4) All ladders will be tied off and made safe at the bottom of the ladders will be secured or "footed" by second person. Ladders will not be left upright and unsecured.

5) Ladders will be used at all times following the codes of good practice laid down by the HSE. No faulty or damaged ladder will be used.

6) Where practical, an operative working from a ladder will wear a safety harness securely fastened to the building structure.

7) Overreaching on ladders past normal arms length is strictly forbidden as is the practice of moving a ladder from the top whilst standing on it.

8) Aluminum steps or scaffolding towers will be used in preference over ladders at all times. The use of these items will be governed by the current codes of good practice as laid down by the HSE.

9) All towboards, outriggers and decking to tower scaffolding will be used at all times. Harnesses will be used where practical fastened to the building structure.

10) The practice of moving a scaffold with somebody on it is strictly forbidden.

11) No one shall climb up the outside of a tower scaffold.

12) Overreaching on a tower scaffold is strictly forbidden.

13) Ladders and long steps should be carried by two people when possible.

14) Before any ladder, tower scaffold or step ladder is erected any overhead hazard must be safe.

15) It is forbidden to work on any live electrical appliance whilst standing on a ladder, step ladder or scaffolds tower.

Safety comes first with no exceptions.

Method Statement

New gas connection to existing gas main

Before work commences a function test of all existing gas equipment must be made any defects reported to the site manager in writing. The gas main is to be visually checked for defects, wrong material, broken or missing brackets and general safety. (Use a job sheet to report faults and get a signature.) No work is to proceed on a gas main that does not conform to current legislation. Any rectification work will be chargeable at normal rates.

1) Test all internal gas mains for soundness.

2) Report and repair any gas leaks. (Repairs not part of contracts.)

3) Isolate the gas main section to be worked on and disconnect at suitable point blanking off the main side with appropriate plug, spade or cap.

3a) Cross bond any sections of pipe that have been removed.

4) If the main is above 4" diameter then it shall be pre-purged with inert gas. If the main is below 4" diameter then it shall be purged with air. Following the procedure laid down in The Institute of Gas Engineers IGE/UP/1.

5) Once the main is degassed the connection will be made using standard pipe fitting techniques.

6) On completion of the connection the pipe-work will be either coupled up to the new equipment or it shall be plugged off with a suitable device.

7) The new connection will be visually checked and any unions etc. tightened.

8) The section containing the new connection will be soundness tested.

9) The disconnected section will then be connected back to the main and checked.

10) Once all connection are made and secure the section will be purged as in 4) above. All purging to fuel gases will be to outside the premises.

11) A purge is deemed to be complete when all sections of the gas system contain 100% GAS as recorded on a GASCO SEEKER.

12) When the whole of the system is purged a final soundness test will be made and a certificate of soundness for the whole installation will be issued.

13) All existing appliances will be function checked and any new appliances commissioned to manufacturers requirements.

14) All new pipe-work will be labeled "GAS" every 40 feet and at direction changes.

All purging and soundness testing will be carried out in accordance with IGE Utilisation procedures (IGE/UP/1) section "SOUNDNESS TESTING AND PURGING OF INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL GAS INSTALLATIONS" without exception

CO Carbon Monoxide the Silent Killer

Carbon Monoxide is a deadly poisonous gas produced by the incomplete combustion of all fossil fuels.
Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning are:
Drowsiness, weakness, headaches, impaired concentration and pains in the chest.
The above symptoms can often be mistaken by doctors for other illnesses. Sometimes the symptoms are on going and the affects can build up in the body.
Regular servicing of gas appliances greatly reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. Prolonged exposure to relatively low levels of Carbon Monoxide can cause irreversible brain damage. Do not fall asleep in a room with a gas fire unless you are sure that it is fully safe and well serviced. Any yellow flames or sooty marks are a sure sign of problems.

Safety Policy

Global heating operates its own safety policy but respectfully reminds customers that they have a duty of care towards all visitors to their site and it is the customers responsibility to introduce all visitors to their site and warn them of any potential hazards or special safety requirements.

Global heating services reserve the right not to work in any area they deem to be to dangerous or work on any equipment that contains any unidentifiable substances.

Global Heating operatives have their own personal safety equipment which is always worn when appropriate and includes:
Safety Shoes
Safety Glasses
Safety Helmet
Ear Plugs
Rubber and Leather gloves
Safety Harness and landyard
High visibility jackets
Disposable overalls
Dust and particle masks

Insurance details

We are insured by Holman Insurance Brokers HOLMAN SPECIAL RISKS Limited to £2,000,000 in one occurrence. The policy includes hot work cover.

Companies Duties

Any company owning or renting a gas fired appliance has a duty under the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Act 1998 and the Health & Safety at Work Act to ensure that all gas equipment is maintained on an annual basis by a suitable qualified and approved person holding current certification for the areas of work he is going to cover.

It is therefore important that when you have work done on your Gas installation you ensure that the service engineer is suitably qualified by asking to see his CORGI registration card:-

Check the expiry date then check on the back of the card that the engineer is cleared to work on the type of installation you have. If you have a commercial or industrial premises anyone working on that system must be cleared for NON-DOMESTIC work.

Make sure you file away all job sheets and reports issued by the service engineer and act responsibly to any recommendations he makes.