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Consumer Goods: Carbon Monoxide

Question for Department for Work and Pensions

UIN 133931, tabled on 27 January 2023

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with representatives of the gas industry on training for operatives to reconnect, relight and test gas appliances for carbon monoxide.

Answered on

1 February 2023

Regulating the safety of gas work is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Standards of training in gas work are overseen by the Gas Safe Register as the Standard Setting Body, and EU Skills who facilitate the Strategic Management Board (SMB). The SMB is deemed to be the scheme owner for the nationally Accredited Certification Scheme for individual gas fitting operatives training in gas work. HSE have a standing invitation to attend all SMB meetings as an observer.

As part of a core training module, all Gas Safe registered engineers are given an awareness of carbon monoxide risks and are trained to carry out the safety checks required by law after work has been carried out. Testing of gas appliances for carbon monoxide is covered in an optional module and businesses should ensure engineers are trained and assessed in this module if they are to carry out such work.

HSE is also a panel member on the industry-led approving committee of metering / ESP Natural Gas Training specification.

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