Gas Checks

Like an MOT, if you fail to obtain a gas certificate then your are potentially placing your employees at risk and failure to comply could lead to the responsible person open to criminal prosecution under Regulation 35 of the “Duties of Employers and self-employed persons” of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations. Failure to obtain the gas certificate and keep a copy of the current CP42 on site is also likely to invalidate your insurance policy.

For more information please review the directive regarding Gas Safety in Catering and Hospitality as found at www.hse.gov.uk or call 01387 252289

The following guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive.

Further information on gas checks and the gas safe certificate

CP42: Commercial Gas Safety Inspection (non-domestic) is the official name for a safety certificate that is issued annually by a registered Gas Safe engineer to cover all installation and appliances in your kitchen.

The inspection should include all gas appliances, pipework, extraction systems and gas interlock systems (if you have it fitted). The inspection will make sure that all details are covered, for example that only smoke detectors designed for a commercial catering environment are installed and that they are linked to an automatic gas shut off system.

The list of safety checks is set down by law and, because they are vitally important, you will need to prove that you are up to date with your checks for insurance purposes. If anything should happen to your premises, failure to obtain an up-to-date gas certificate and keep a copy on the premises will probably invalidate your insurance policy.

If you don’t have an up-to-date CP42 then not only are you potentially uninsured and putting the health and safety of your employees and customers at risk, but you could also find yourself being prosecuted under Regulation 35 of the “Duties of Employers and self-employed persons” of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations.

The gas safety check record is a record of the results of the checks carried out for the annual gas safety check. It should be issued on completion of the checks and not delayed even if defects are found or until necessary remedial action has been taken.

The record is a ‘living document’ and landlords should supplement it with records of any follow up action taken (if required). This would provide a full record of the gas safety within the property.

You should not assume that an annual service inspection includes the points required by a safety check; neither should you assume that carrying out an annual gas safety check will be sufficient to provide effective maintenance. The advice of a competent Gas Safe registered engineer should be taken where necessary on action required.

Extract taken from - http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm