A new gas safety certification scheme that aims to serve as a benchmark of best practice was launched on 3 February by Capita Gas Compliance Services (CGCS).
The voluntary scheme will give certified businesses a competitive edge, says CGCS, as it will demonstrate their ability to deliver a high quality service, having gone through rigorous and impartial third party assessment, confirming that all legal gas safety standards are met.
The scheme is UKAS accredited and recognised by public and private sector organisations. It also offers reduced risks in relation to the delivery of safe gas work as the use of relevant accredited certification is recognised as a mitigating factor in legal processes.
“CGCS certification was designed for businesses wanting to demonstrate that they don’t just meet industry standards but exceed them,” explained Matthew Hickman, managing director at Capita Gas Compliance Services.
“The scheme will give businesses that go ‘above and beyond’ for gas safety work the recognition they deserve among their customer base, potential new business opportunities and other organisations in the industry.”
Assessments for businesses looking to achieve CGCS certification covers a number of areas including; quality control and supervision policies, standard of gas work service warranties and an on-site gas work assessment of employees and contractors across the areas of the organisation’s scope of certification.
Optimum Technical Services is one of the companies that has already achieved CGCS certification.
“Achieving certification demonstrates our commitment to providing excellent customer service and provides our clients with further confidence that our work is to the highest quality standards and is in line with industry best practice,” said Martin Watson, managing director of Optimum Technical Services. “CGCS certification shows we are not only Gas Safe registered and meet Gas Safety regulations and British standards, but that we operate to the highest standards of quality in this area.”
The CGCS certification cost will vary depending on the size of the business and the scope of the gas work undertaken. The assessment process will take approximately six to eight weeks depending on the number of operating centres.
