The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require that all gas work is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Care home operators who allow unregistered operatives to work on gas appliances face criminal liability, even where the instruction was given in good faith or the contractor claimed to hold registration.
Why this matters
Gas Safe registration must be verified before every instruction not once at procurement stage. Engineers add and remove appliance categories to their registration at any time. A contractor who was registered for boiler work last year may not hold that category today. The only defence is a verified check at the time of instruction.
What to do
- 1Before instructing any gas work, check the engineer's Gas Safe registration card or verify their ID number at GasSafeRegister.co.uk confirm the relevant appliance category is listed on the reverse.
- 2Record the verification in writing: engineer name, Gas Safe ID number, date checked, appliance category confirmed, and the work instructed. Retain this alongside the CP12 or service record.
- 3Do not accept a photocopy of a Gas Safe card as proof cards can lapse mid-contract. The live register check is the only reliable verification.
- 4Review your contractor management policy to include a mandatory Gas Safe verification step as a condition of issuing any gas works instruction.
Primary source
Gas Safe Register Checking an Engineer's Registration
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