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SAFETY IN YOUR ACCOMMODATION

 
The issue of safety in your accommodation is one of extreme importance. Since there are some situations that are potentially life threatening, it needs to be viewed with the utmost seriousness.

Carbon monoxide poisoning - am I at risk?

Yes! Everyone who has gas appliances in their homes is potentially at risk. When looking at a property, always check the method of heating. If there is a gas water heater / fire, use with extreme caution. Carbon Monoxide or CO is a highly poisonous gas, which is produced when gas burns incorrectly, usually if an appliance is not receiving enough oxygen. Please note that it is different to a gas leak - these can be detected more easily by their smell. Carbon Monoxide does not smell and is colourless.

There are two main ways in which gas fires can be starved of oxygen:

1. Through insufficient room ventilation. Always check for air bricks in the room (they may be covered by pictures / furniture) - they must never be covered. Ask the landlord to put one in. The only exception to this is where a room is well ventilated from another source, for example doors or windows.

2. Ensure that the flue (chimney) at the back of the fire is not blocked. The only way to do this is to take the fire off the wall. Do not attempt to do this work yourself.

What can you do?

If you suspect that an appliance is unsafe, turn the appliance off immediately and do not switch it on until you have done the following. Always check with the landlord, to see if all gas appliances have been serviced within the last 12 months. Request to see the safety certificate; this is a legal requirement and if it is not produced you can request that the appliance be serviced as a matter of urgency. A registered Council of Registered Gas Installations (CORGI) should only carry out the service. It is your landlord's legal responsibility to ensure that your home is safe. If the landlord refuses, you should contact the Environmental Health Department at your local council or the Students' Union Advice Service.

What are the danger signs / symptoms?

• Stains, soot or discoloration around the gas fire / top of the water heater
• Flame on the gas fire / water heater should not be yellow / orange
• Strange smell when the appliance is switched on
• Cold / flu type symptoms
• Unexplained headaches, chest or muscular pains
• Sickness / diarrhoea
• Sudden dizziness when standing up
• General lethargy

Electrical safety

It is important to do the following:

• Check all plugs, to ensure that they are wired correctly (never use a plug with exposed wires).
• Check that all the appliances that are supplied by the landlord are in working order.
• Check that there is no damp near the wall sockets, and see if they are in working order.
• Ensure that all wires are protected and not exposed.

Fire safety

A large percentage of students live in what are termed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). This includes many shared houses, flats and bedsits, but not Halls of Residence. The risk from fire in a HMO is almost ten times greater than in a family home. Thus, when looking for a house / flat it is essential to assess whether or not there is adequate means of escape from a fire.

Ideally, a home should have what is called a 'half hour protected shaft'. This consists of staircases and landings together with fire resistant ceilings and walls. Always ask yourself, "could I escape in a fire?" Legislation was introduced in 1993 stating that all furniture provided by a landlord must be fire resistant.

Smoke alarms are very useful, however you must be aware of varying qualities as cheap battery alarms can fail. Automatic alarms operate on a sensory system and go off at the detection of any smoke. They also monitor for any physical or chemical signs of fire. If in doubt, please contact the Environmental Health Department of your local council, who will come round and inspect your accommodation. They can also exert pressure on your landlord to improve safety standards.

What precautions can I take?

Always keep exit routes free from clutter. Never store inflammable liquids under the stairs - if these caught fire your means of escape could be blocked. Never cover furniture, lamps, or heaters. Request that your landlord fit fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. The list of precautions is endless - common sense, as always, is of key importance.

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