Page 25 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

contractor, or is it the client? for example, via an audit rather than should be interested in – it’s today.
Ultimate responsibility is with the addressing issues at the time. Historic information, even recent
CEO and board members. As Fiona Our research found that monthly returns, is open to data
MacGregor, Director of the Regulator organisations seem to operate contamination. Information in real-
of Social Housing, states: business reporting systems, which are time is ideal as it raises standards of
“Contracting out delivery of services prone to human error, rather than performance through constant
does not contract out responsibility dynamic compliance systems. transparency.
to meet the requirements of Housing associations that outsource This is the final and most important
legislation or standards, so providers are reliant upon contractor data, point to remember: don’t wait for near
need systems to give boards which in a lot of cases may not be misses or accidents before reviewing
assurance of compliance.” very robust. longstanding practice.
This was backed up by a statement Make sure at every level of gas
from Dorota Pawlowski, Senior CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE safety there is accountability.
Associate at Trowers & Hamlins, who Research into the social housing Ultimate responsibility is with the
said: “Employing an engineer to carry sector has shown there is an CEO and board members. Don’t wait
out gas work does not absolve the CEO increasing focus on gas safety and for a crisis to review and refine policy
and board from their legal responsibility. compliance, but there are areas that and practice.
“If something goes wrong, the CEO need addressing. It is our responsibility to ask difficult
and board are ultimately accountable As an industry, it is our questions – not just rely on box-
for any failures to ensure that things responsibility to look at how we can ticking – to keep tenants safe. ■
have been done correctly which could help to change the landscape, improve
result in a substantial fine and/or a on what we do, educate people and, ■ Gas Tag is a leading gas safety
custodial sentence.” more importantly, how we continually technology company. Gas Tag
strive to make the UK a safer place. comprises a free app for Gas Safe
REACTIVE VS. PROACTIVE How do we do this? The sector engineers and a physical tag fitted
Inadvertently, organisations are more needs to challenge itself and go on a property’s gas meter. The tag
reactive than proactive when it comes beyond box-ticking. Compliance contains details used to track the
to gas compliance. With their drive to for compliance’s sake is no longer gas work, servicing and installations
meet regulatory requirements, there is good enough. carried out at the property via the
a strong focus on reporting on Don’t accept information from the app. For more information visit
compliance and retrospective action, past. It’s not the last quarter that you www.gastag.co.uk

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