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British Gas has warned small- and medium-sized enterprises to take gas safety seriously, as a survey reveals one in five firms have experienced health and safety issues with boilers or gas appliances.
The survey of UK senior managers found 17 per cent of businesses don’t have their gas appliance checked at least once a year.
The research also revealed a “worrying” lack of understanding about gas safety, with 41 per cent saying they would switch off the electrics if they smelt gas on their premises. Sixteen per cent said they would try to work out which appliance was leaking gas, and 1 per cent said they would shut all windows and doors to keep the gas inside the building.
Fourteen per cent of businesses said they had suffered lost trading hours because of issues with boilers or gas appliances. Additionally, 11 per cent admitted they had lost revenue and 14 per cent said they had to buy a new boiler or appliance.
British Gas Business field service manager Vincent Thomas said it was “crucial” that businesses “take gas safety seriously”.
“I’ve seen some alarming stuff over the years in all different types of businesses – from factories to nursing homes,” he said. “When something goes wrong it can stop a business in its tracks and have a serious effect on finances, staff and customers.
“Our engineers visit over 1,000 businesses every week, and find that many customers don’t think about the risks of carbon monoxide and gas leaks at work the same way as they might at home. It’s absolutely essential to get any commercial gas appliance regularly serviced and maintained.”
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