One in four homes across Greater Manchester are at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or an explosion as 28% of people in the region have an unsafe gas appliance – the most unsafe in the North West.
The shocking research was compiled by Gas Safe Register after inspecting more than 11,000 homes in the North West and revealed that Manchester came out top for being the most dangerous in gas safety, as well as having a high number of cowboy unregistered gas fitters pretending to be legal engineers.
The data also found that appliances in nearly one in 15 homes was in immediate danger and could prove fatal for homeowners if they go unchecked.
Blackpool was found to have the second most number of homes with unsafe appliances followed by Carlisle with Liverpool claiming the top spot for safest cities for faulty gas products.
Russell Kramer, Chief Executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “Gas safety is a life or death matter and something that shouldn’t be ignored.
“People are aware of the potential risks of unsafe gas work and they know what they should be doing to keep themselves safe, but as our research has found, not everyone is acting on that information.
“This is why we have launched the gas map. It is the first time that data on unsafe gas appliances and illegal gas work has been compared across postcodes in Great Britain.
“We want people to realise that gas safety is something that they should take seriously and by bringing it to their doorstep it makes it harder to ignore.”
One in three households across the UK have admitted that they have never had their gas products checked with 31 people dead and 1091 injured from gas-related accidents in the last three years.
Mr Kramer added: “We hope to see millions of people using the gas map during and beyond Gas Safety Week to get a better understanding of how they can protect themselves. Some areas are more at risk, but even in safer areas there is no room for complacency.
“Get your appliances checked every year, sign up for our reminder service and only use a Gas Safe registered engineer. It could save yours and your family’s lives.”
To find a Gas Safe registered engineer and for more general gas safety advice click here or call 0800 408 5500.
Picture courtesy of Robert Wade via Flickr, with thanks.
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