The Dangers of Badly Serviced Heating Boilers

A British Family hear that the court hearing into the tragic death of their two children by carbon monoxide poisoning is adjourned in Corfu

I am sure that our hearts went out to the parents of the two children who so tragically died in their sleep during the family holiday to Corfu.

This week they heard that despite a two year wait for the hearing in Corfu to establish the reasons for this accident, that the case was to be adjourned for a further six months.

Whether we are a parent or a landlord we can only imagine the terrible loss that this couple have suffered. They themselves had been in deep comas for five days, when they recovered to be told that both their children had been taken in the tragedy must have been unbearable grief .

In the UK it is the law that all gas equipment must be tested by a Gas Safe Registered heating engineer to ensure that such tragedies don’t happen here so it is so important that these checks are properly carried out.

Whether it is the heating boiler inn your own home or you are a landlord renting out your property don’t shirk your responsibilty. If you have even the slightest doubt call out a Gas Safe heating Engineer immediately to check you out. I’m sure no one could live with themselves for causing such a grievous loss.

Go to our customer advice page for the early signs that might mean your boiler needs a service or more – don’t take chances.

London Plumbing and Heating Division move to New Offices

The London Plumbing and Heating Division of 1st Action along with the Groups Call Centre moved out of its temporary home into new offices in Northolt at he beginning of June. Following the fire at premises adjoining its Head Office in Cumberland Business Park that necessitated a very quick move into temporary premises, the division has now found a more permanent home in Northolt.

In smart new offices the company’s call centre staff are now back up to full speed again as all the telephone lines are back on stream and the company computers all operating fully again.

” Its great to be back and working in the same offices again” said Michelle Lasenby (Customer Relations) “It has been difficult with the departments working from different venues and we have tried very hard to make sure that it has not affected our customers too much”

Shelley Hefferman (Allocations Manager) said “After the last few weeks it is wonderful to be in these new light airy offices. I’m sure that everyone feels the difference”

The London Plumbing Division Sponsor in London Marathon

1st Action in the marathon

1st Action the London Plumbers in the London Marathon

As one of the leading Plumbers in London the Directors of 1st Action London Plumbing Division heard that one of their customers was running in The London Marathon they wanted to help.

Carole Billingham was running to raise money for ‘KIDS GET GOING’ A registered charity that raises money to provide Sport & Mobility for Disabled Children’
A worthy cause and after the success of our athletes in Bejing support for disabled young people has proved very effective
The London Plumbing firm felt that the streets of London were the perfect place to show their support. They decided to help by sponsoring her for each mile she ran.

Carole worked very hard in traing for the day and completed the 26 miles in the fantastic time of in the fantastic time of 4 hrs 26 minutes.

Congratulations Carole

The day brought excellent weather and the support from the crowds created an amazing atmosphere for everyone who took part in this wonderful event raising

Carole on Marathon Day

and a huge amount of money for so many charities across the country.

1st Action’s London plumbing division was delighted to make its contribution but it was Carole Billingham who ran the distance – 1st Action just went round on her T Shirt

WELL DONE MRS BILLINGHAM! (Carole)

Thieves Didn’t Stop Us

Damage

Mrs Cummins from Eastcote, Middlesex called us as she had a blocked drain. Raw sewage was overflowing on her patio and she was extremely concerned as her children were due home from school. This being a Health and Safety Risk we immediately sent a drainage technician. On route to the property the engineer stopped at the suppliers, but when returning to his van after just 8 minutes found Thieves had snapped off the handles to the back doors. As the van was dead locked they were unable to gain access this way. Not stopping there they smashed the door window and also ripped the ignition barrel out. As well as causing costly damage they stole items from the front of the vehicle. Police had to be called and repairs carried out before the engineer and his van could be moved.

Concerned with the Health and Safety Risk we sent another drainage technician and just 2 hours 20 minutes from Mrs Cummins call, the blockage was cleared, the patio area was cleaned and sanitized. Mrs Cummins thanks 1st Action staff for the speed, reliability and professionalism. (Beware Middlesex van drivers).

Fire in North West London Business Park

Fire At Park Royal

Athough the 1st Action offices of the London plumbing division were not affected by the fire that surrounded their offices in Park Royal, North West London it was necessary to vacate the building. Within just one hour the call center was up and running as normal within a nearby hotel function room.

Unfortunately due to health and safety reasons the office building remained unusable and it was necessary to move into a new more permanent office until the company premises in Park Royal would be available again.

A new office was found that day and after working all night the call centre computers, telephone lines and equipment was moved in.

Throughout the whole operation the company maintained its service and the London Plumbers were out serving our customers. Our Electricians, Heating Engineers, Drainage Engineers are all working as normal.

It was another great emergency job done by 1st Action staff – Thank you everyone for your tremendous efforts to make sure that this London plumbing company is serving the public

The New Gas Safe Register comes into force

On 17^th March 2009 1^st Action expressed our concern on BBC News Breakfast watch video that not enough was being done to make the general public aware that from 1^st April 2009 the ONLY qualification for a gas engineer would be the Gas Safe Register and that CORGI was no longer a valid qualification to do the job.

We urged the Health and Safety Executive to make sure that it is made clear to the public that CORGI has been replaced by this new standard and that they must be just as vigilant in employing only a Gas Safe Registered boiler engineer as they were about CORGI.

They confirmed their intentions and stated in the interview that the main change in the future administration of the Gas Safe Register would be its investment in raising public awareness of the dangers of a badly fitted gas installation.

We welcome the raising of this awareness and the new television advertising campaign notifying the public of the changes.

All 1^st Action gas boiler engineers are Gas Safe Registered and we hope that there will be an ongoing promotional campaign by the HSE to highlight the dangers that can arise out of a gas installation or repair carried out by an unregistered and inexperienced engineer

We cannot over emphasise the dangers of a poor installation of gas boilers and equipment.

Whilst properly installed and serviced boilers, cookers and gas fires are perfectly safe, badly fitted boilers that are not serviced regularly hold killer dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and explosion.

Don’t take risks with the lives of your family

1st Action helps out

It was a drama at the Brown home in Wembley when they arrived back from holiday to find the heating system wasn’t working and no matter what they tried the pilot light just didn’t want to know and there was no hot water.

The suitcases were full of washing and everyone needed a shower after spending all day in airports or on aeroplanes. A call to 1st Action at 6.30pm had a Gas Safe Registered boiler engineer round within the hour and everything was back working by 8.30.

By 9.30pm after some wonderful Fish and Chips from the chippy and two very tired children now bathed and tucked up in their own beds, Mum and Dad sat down to watch News at Ten.

The call centre at 1st Action was delighted to receive a thank you call at 11.00pm but rest assured Mr Brown the pleasure is ours

The Gas Safe Register takes over from 1st April 2009.

1^st Action expressed their concern on BBC News Breakfast on 17^th March 2009 watch video that the general public was not being made aware that from 1^st April 2009 the ONLY qualification for a gas engineer was the Gas Safe Register and CORGI was no longer a valid qualification to do the job.

We urge the Health and Safety Executive who set the standards for the new Gas Safe Register to make sure that it is made clear to the public that CORGI has been replaced by this new standard and that they must be just as vigilant in employing only a Gas Safe Registered boiler engineer as they were about CORGI.

All 1^st Action gas boiler engineers are Gas Safe Registered