UK boiler manufacturing firm Baxi has championed the importance of Gas Safety Week as recently released figures revealed a 10% increase in suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings.

The Gas Safe Register co-ordinated Gas Safety Week, which is hosts every year to increase awareness of poorly maintained gas appliances, and the seriousness of the associated consequences.

Gas safety is more relevant that ever this year, with the research showing a 10% rise in suspected CO poisoning cases over the last two years.

Head of product management at Baxi, Jon Phillips, commented: “Every day, four people will go to hospital with CO poisoning, which is a deeply worrying statistic. Gas Safety Week is an opportunity to consider how we can reduce gas related incidents through taking every available precaution when it comes to installing and maintaining gas appliances.

“For gas installers, CO is an all too familiar risk. As industry experts out on the front line they are ideally placed to help hammer the message home and raise awareness of safety standards across the board. Gas safety is about educating both the industry and the general public, and the awareness raised by Gas Safety Week is vital to that.”

There are several simple ways that installers can help to pass gas safety advice onto others, where it be a new installation, general call out or an annual service, every job is an opportunity to educate customers on the dangers of CO and the steps they can take to stay safe.

For properties with fuel burning appliances installed, such as a gas boiler or wood burning fire, it is best practice to make sure that every floor is fitted with at least one CO alarm, and the boiler should be regularly serviced by a Gas Safe registered heating engineer.

Along with protecting against the risk of CO poisoning, carbon monoxide alarms can provide an early warning sign of failing gas appliances, which makes them a key tool in improving gas safety.