Well its February and the unusual spell of warm weather we are experiencing is a stark reminder that festival season is fast approaching! But is your mobile catering vehicle ready for the hustle and bustle of the hungry festival goers? Don’t leave it until the last minute to ensure your commercial catering vehicle is gas safe as this could be a costly mistake.
It is required by law (Health and Safety at Work Act 1947) that your commercial business must have an annual gas safety check carried out by a gas safe registered engineer failure to do so can lead to prosecution, so make sure it is at the top of your list of priorities when getting your commercial catering vehicle ready for festival season.
Annual Gas Safety Check
Your annual gas safety check will ensure the operation of gas appliances, flues and pipework. It is very important to check that the engineer carrying out these checks is a qualified gas engineer as well as the capability to work on LPG mobile catering units. Once the checks are successfully completed you will be presented with a gas safe certificate, this will contain the following:
- Locations and descriptions of equipment and flues examined
- Inspection details and whether equipment is safe to use or not
- Any problems that have been identified and actions to provide solutions
- Outcome of equipment and supply pipework visual inspection
- Details of ventilation/extraction system for gas burring equipment
- Details of any other work carried out
- Gas Safe register number, name and signature of the engineer.
Routine Safety checks
It is important that you as a business owner or a trusted employee complete regular checks (at least once a month) to ensure everything is running as it should. These checks should include:
- Ensure no damage has occurred to cylinder, regulator or changeover device
- Hoses and connectors should be clean and inspected for damage or abrasions
- Check appliances are working correctly, if unsure of the safe working of an appliance use the isolating valve or quick release valve coupler to isolate it. Call in a gas safe registered engineer to carry out any repairs or replacements.
- Check the gas pipes and connections.
If any modifications or repairs are necessary then ensure you get a qualified gas safe engineer to do so, as unqualified persons carrying out this kind of work is a criminal offence!
If at any point you smell gas, then isolate at the supply and contact a gas safe registered engineer.
Maintenance and Gas Safety Check
All gas appliances and flues should be maintained in a safe working condition, and servicing should be carried out as per manufacturer’s instructions, usually every 12 months. Any maintenance work that needs to be carried out should be done so by a qualified gas safe registered engineer. Once equipment is back in a safe working condition you should be issued with a gas safety record.
The gas safety record should contain the following information:
- Name and address of the owner/operator of the installation
- Details of the installation
- Appliance description i.e. make and model
- Tightness test results
- Operating pressure
- Whether the installation complies with current safety legislation.
- Any issues identified, the severity and corrective actions taken
- Name and address of registered business that preformed the safety check.
- Name and signature of engineer who performed the check
- Date the report was completed and the expiry date
- Advice that this record needs to be retained for 3 years and safety checks should be carried out annually.
The gas safety record that you are provided with should be one that is specific to mobile catering trailers and van conversions.
So, if you haven’t already done so, contact Vortex Gas today to ensure that your commercial catering vehicle is fully functioning and safe in time for the busy festival season! – 0151 523 7243