Gas safety

General union GMB has demanded that the gas industry invests more money in attracting and training staff, following evidence of a lack of skilled engineers in the industry which could seriously compromise

safety. The demand from GMB general secretary John Edmonds followed the revelation that figures showing that only 128 newly qualified entrants joined the register of gas installers last year, far below the necessary replacement rate. Accidents involving their gas supply already kill three people every month, and the union is worried that the lack of skilled engineers coming through to work in the gas industry could mean a steep rise in fatal accidents. It has supported a proposal from the government that the industry should be offered loans to train staff, but believes that there should be a levy on the industry.