Who is the Killer in Your Home? CORGI launches new campaign
10th April 2008
This month, the UK’s gas safety watchdog CORGI launches a new ‘Cluedo’ style safety campaign at The Homebuilding & Renovating Show at Birmingham’s NEC, showing all self-builders, renovators and home improvers why they shouldn’t let the dangers of unsafe gas work result in a real life murder mystery in their own home.
Colonel Mustard in the lounge with the rope? Reverend Green in the billiard room with the candlestick? Or Cowboy Dan in the kitchen with the dodgy boiler? Characters from the well-known board game are being used to help unravel the clues to gas safety.
CORGI’s Head of Communications Dan Caesar, explains:
“The Homebuilding and Renovating Show is the perfect place for CORGI to launch this campaign. It is important that this type of audience understands the dangers of trying to install or fix a gas appliance themselves – the point is that it’s potentially dangerous and it’s illegal.
“It’s also tempting for homebuilders and renovators to call in a friend to do a quick job on ‘mates’ rates’. Our advice to them is to leave this work to the qualified experts – the CORGI registered installers.”
CORGI’s research has highlighted that many young homeowners on a tight budget who are trying to move up the property ladder are most at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning and explosions. Installed and annually serviced by a CORGI registered member, gas appliances are safe but if people fail to get their appliances maintained each year or use someone who is not CORGI registered to work on gas then they are taking a huge risk.
Illegal gas work is 32 times more likely to result in a carbon monoxide poisoning incident. Known as the silent killer, carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that is produced when gas appliances are not working properly and it is responsible for the deaths of around 30 people each year – hundreds more people become seriously injured. We cannot see it, taste it or smell it and those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning often have flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness.
All CORGI registered installers are trained professionals who have been regularly monitored by CORGI to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. It is illegal for someone to work on gas if they don’t have CORGI registration. Everyone must check if a gas installer is CORGI registered by always asking to see their CORGI ID card. All CORGI members are issued with an ID card. Find a CORGI member or check if someone is registered by going to www.trustcorgi.com or calling 0800 915 0485
As well as using a CORGI-registered installer, a good second line of defence is to install an audible carbon monoxide alarm. These alarms cost approximately £25 – a small price to pay if it saves a life - and can be bought from most good DIY stores, through a CORGI registered member or from www.trustcorgi.com
From 10-13 April, CORGI will have a stand at The Homebuilding & Renovating Show at Birmingham’s NEC, where they will be running a free hourly prize draw to launch the Cluedo gas safety campaign. Every hour, a number of winners will receive a carbon monoxide detector. CORGI experts will also be on hand to answer questions and provide free advice and guidance on safe gas work and the dangers of carbon monoxide.