Introduction

If you run a catering business, make sure you understand and follow the legal obligations for gas catering equipment in kitchens and catering premises including bottled beverage gasses.

Gas appliance safety

Employers have duties to take reasonable steps to ensure their employees and customers are not put at risk from faulty gas equipment.

How to make sure gas appliances comply with the law

Employers have duties to take reasonable steps to ensure their employees and customers are not put at risk from faulty gas equipment. They must have:

• a suitable maintenance scheme in place and be using a gas engineer registered with the Gas Safe Register. (This replaced CORGI on 1 April 2009)
• ensure that gas appliance manufacturers’ instructions are followed and that employees have been suitably informed, instructed and where necessary trained in procedures that must be followed.

How to find a registered gas engineer

All Gas Safe registered engineers have an ID card with their licence number and a photograph, which you can check. Check an engineer is on the Gas Safe Register. Or call the Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500. If you have hearing difficulties, you can use their text phone service on 0800 408 0606.

How to carry out a risk assessment

All employers need to carry out risk assessments and these must be written down if you have five or more employees. Have a look at the Gas Safety Check List (PDF 255KB) document for how to carry out a gas safety risk assessment and to control the risks associated with gas in your workplace.

Beverage gases in the hospitality industry

If you use beverage gases in the hospitality industry you need to understand the risks associated with their use and how to manage gas use safely.

How to find a reputable supplier of beverage gases

Ensure your gas supplier is a legitimate and reputable distributor of dispense gases. The Brewing, Food and Beverage Industry Suppliers Association (BFBi) operate a Gas Suppliers Accreditation Scheme, and manage a Register of Gas fillers, suppliers and installers. This scheme is designed to provide assurance to retailers that the beverage gas they buy is from an accredited supplier and that it is fit for purpose.

What to do to comply with the law

Employers have duties to take reasonable steps to ensure their employees and customers are not put at risk from faulty beverage gas equipment. They must have:

• safe systems of work and emergency procedures for cellar work
• safe handling and storage of cylinders
• training of staff on hazards and changeover procedures.

Where to get further advice and guidance

The British Compressed Gases Association have provided some simple guidance on their website see - Beverage Gas Services

Working with the British Beer and Pub Association and the British Food and British Industry Suppliers Association the BCGA have produced two posters. The posters are for display at the workplace including the cellar. They help to publicise the hazards of incorrectly obtaining, storing and using beverages. These can be downloaded below:

Poster 1- Good Gas – Good Business and Poster 2 - Cheap Gas Can Prove Costly

For more detailed information see the BCGA publications which are available to download from their website. For example

•  L10 Profit through quality. Good gas, good business. Revision 3: 2016
• GN30 The safe use of gases in the beverage dispense industry. Revision 1 2017