Inspection: an important reminder
This is an abridged version of the article that appears in the January-February 2024 print edition.
Your work will be inspected by Gas Safe Register periodically, whether you’re newly registered or you’ve been registered for many years. The inspector’s role is not to catch you out: they’re simply making sure that you’re working safely and correctly.
You must allow the inspection of gas work undertaken in the course of your business and you’ll need to make arrangements for this when you receive a letter or email from the Register advising of an inspection appointment.
Please do not ignore your inspection appointment notification: appointments cannot be changed unless there are exceptional circumstances. Please contact the customer service team on 0800 408 5500 or email appointments@ gassaferegister.co.uk if you need to discuss your inspection appointment.
How should I prepare?
You’ll need to arrange access to two addresses within around 30 minutes of your business address where you have carriedout gas work previously or where you can carry out work such as a landlord’s gas safety record check or a safety check during the inspection.
It is your responsibility to arrange the location and timings; Gas Safe Register will not do this for you.
What will happen at my inspection?
The inspection will take around 2.5-3 hours. The inspector will gain an understanding of your knowledge from the work you will be undertaking by asking technical questions based on the competencies you hold.
They will inspect your gas safety equipment, which should be available for inspection: this may include tools and equipment that you use to carry out gas work.
The inspector will then observe you carrying out practical gas work that is within your registered work categories. You should make sure you have with you the tools you need to undertake this part of the inspection.
You’ll need to show that you keep appropriate records of the gas work you have carried out and have access to suitable documentation to deal correctly with any unsafe situations that you may identify through the course of your work.
Applying your competence not just to the work you do but also to the rest of the installation you are working on is just as important in order to maintain the safety of your customer.
For businesses with 10 or more engineers, the inspection will start with an office-based assessment that assesses how the business manages its gas work. Then the site inspection requirement is proportionate to the number of engineers the business has and the scope of work it undertakes.
What if I don’t know the answer to a question?
You can refer to any reference material during the visit: the inspections are not closed book. However, inspectors will expect you to have sound knowledge of the Unsafe Situations Procedure and gas safety.
What practical work will I have to carry out?
It depends on what work you are showing the inspector, but some of the tests might be:
- A visual inspection of the gas installation and appliances
- A tightness testThe working pressure at the outlet of the gas meter
- Gas rating appliances
- The inlet working pressure or operating pressures
- Flue gas analysis
- Checking the safety device/s of the nominated appliance
- Identifying and reporting any unsafe situations.
What about virtual inspection?
If you are eligible for a virtual inspection, this will take around 1.5 hours and you will need a working laptop, computer or tablet. Whichever device you choose to use for the virtual inspection, you will need a working camera because a mandatory identification check will be carried out. Once your identification is confirmed, the inspection test can be completed.
