When you run a catering business you need to make money, provide a good service, and ensure the health and safety of employees and the public when they are on your premises. One important aspect of commercial catering health and safety is gas safety. If you’re looking for answers about gas safety for your catering business, read on.
Why is Gas Safety Important in Commercial Catering?
Gas safety is highly important in a catering business. Making sure that your gas appliances are serviced, maintained and working correctly minimises the risk of fire or explosion, stops deadly carbon monoxide from being circulated, and provides a safe, comfortable environment for staff to work in and the public to visit.
What is the Law Relating to Commercial Catering Gas Safety?
The law governing gas appliances and services in catering is the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) as well as the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. This first law applies to the gas equipment you use in your catering business, which includes the equipment for cooking. The second set of regulations governs the use of gas and the systems that carry gas around the premises.
What Are My Responsibilities as a Catering Business Owner?
According to www.milgas.co.uk, you need to ensure that you maintain your gas appliances with regular services by commercial catering engineers. These engineers must be registered Gas Safe in order to work on servicing gas appliances. You should make sure that gas equipment is operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Proper training should be given to staff so that they can use gas equipment safely. And you need to keep a Gas Safety Record for inspection when needed.
Who Can Work on Gas Equipment in the Catering Business?
The only person who can service, repair or install gas equipment in a catering business (or indeed any other type of business) is a qualified gas engineer who is on the Gas Safe register. You can check that an engineer has the correct registration by looking on the Gas Safe website and checking ID when the engineer visits. The engineer must also be certified competent in terms of working on commercial catering equipment.
How Do I Know if Gas Equipment is Dangerous?
You can often tell if a piece of gas equipment is not working correctly when it has a yellow or orange flame instead of the regular blue flame. Another danger sign is yellow or brown, or sooty, stains that appear surrounding the equipment. A pilot light that always blows out and increased condensation are also danger signs.
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