8.1 Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP / IGEM/G/11) Overview

8.1 Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP / IGEM/G/11) Overview

The Gas Industry Unsafe Situations Procedure (GIUSP) is the definitive industry guidance document used by all Gas Safe registered engineers in the United Kingdom to identify, classify, and manage unsafe gas installations. Currently published by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers as IGEM/G/11 Edition 2, the procedure provides a consistent, risk-assessed framework designed to safeguard lives and property from gas leaks, fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Every domestic gas engineer preparing for the ACS CCN1 assessment must master GIUSP terminology, risk classification criteria, physical isolation procedures, paper documentation standards, and legal refusal protocols. Failure to correctly classify an unsafe situation or follow mandatory reporting procedures on site constitutes a critical failure in both ACS examinations and professional practice.

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Statutory Framework & Legislative Basis

While GIUSP is published as an industry standard guidance document, compliance with its principles is necessary to fulfill statutory legal obligations under UK health and safety legislation.

1. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR)

• Regulation 26(9): Explicitly mandates that where a registered gas engineer carries out work on a gas fitting and discovers a defect that may cause danger, the engineer must inform the responsible person (user/owner) and take appropriate action to make the installation safe.
• Regulation 35 & 36: Imposes duties on employers, self-employed engineers, and landlords to maintain gas fittings in a safe condition and retain safety documentation.

2. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA 1974)

• Section 7: Imposes a legal duty on every employee and self-employed person to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
• Section 3: Requires operatives to conduct their undertakings in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment are not exposed to health and safety risks.

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|                         STATUTORY LEGISLATION                         |
|         Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 r.26(9)       |
|                 Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 s.7             |
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+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         INDUSTRY STANDARD                             |
|               IGEM/G/11 Edition 2 (GIUSP Guidance)                    |
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|                        OPERATIONAL EXECUTION                          |
|  Risk Classification (ID / AR) -> Isolation -> Warning Notice   |
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Unsafe Classification Hierarchy (IGEM/G/11 Edition 2)

Current GIUSP unsafe classifications are Immediately Dangerous (ID) and At Risk (AR) only.

Not to Current Standards (NCS) is outside GIUSP unsafe labelling: the installation is assessed as safe but not to current standards. Advise the responsible person and record on ordinary paperwork if useful — do not use ID/AR warning notices solely for NCS.

• On every relevant job, correctly categorize unsafe defects as ID or AR under IGEM/G/11 Edition 2.

Roles & Responsibilities of Duty Holders

Managing unsafe situations relies on a clear division of legal and technical responsibilities between the registered engineer, gas network operators, and the gas consumer.

Gas Safe Registered Engineer

• Thoroughly inspect, test, and assess gas fittings using prescribed testing methods (e.g., spillage testing, tightness testing, flue gas analysis).
• Correctly categorize any identified defect into ID or AR under IGEM/G/11.
• Seek customer consent to isolate or disconnect dangerous equipment.
• Affix warning labels and complete formal written Warning Notices immediately while on site.

Gas Transporter / Emergency Control Operator (ECO)

• Operate the 24/7 National Gas Emergency Service helpline (0800 111 999).
• Attend reported uncontrolled gas escapes or customer refusal escalations within statutory response windows (typically 1 to 2 hours).
• Exercise statutory powers under the Gas Safety (Rights of Entry) Regulations 1996 to enter premises and cut off the gas supply at the main meter where an ID situation persists without consent.

Responsible Person (Property Owner / Tenant / Landlord)

• Ensure recommended remedial repairs are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer prior to re-commissioning isolated appliances.
• Refrain from tampering with, removing, or operating gas fittings that have been isolated and labeled with a 'DO NOT USE' notification.

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Documentation & Record Keeping Standards

Whenever an ID or AR situation is identified, the engineer must issue a formal Danger Notification / Warning Notice before leaving the property.

Essential Contents of a Warning Notice

1. Site Details: Date, full address, location of affected fitting.
2. Engineer Identification: Engineer name, Gas Safe registration number, business contact details.
3. Classification & Description: Clear tick-box selection (ID or AR) and a precise technical description of the fault (e.g., "Open flue water heater spilling flue gas into bathroom; high CO risk").
4. Action Taken: Detailed statement of physical actions completed (e.g., "Gas supply to appliance disconnected and capped with 15mm brass compression cap").
5. Signatures: Signatures of both the engineer and the responsible person acknowledging receipt of the notice.

Record Retention Rule: Engineers must retain copies of all issued Warning Notices for a minimum of 2 years for audit and legal compliance purposes. Retaining records for the operational life of the installation (or 6 years under civil limitation periods) is strongly recommended.

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Customer Refusal Protocol & Escalation Pathway

If a customer refuses permission to disconnect an ID situation or turn off an AR appliance, the engineer must never engage in physical confrontation, breach the peace, or force entry. Instead, the engineer must strictly follow the statutory escalation path:

1. DISCOVER UNSAFE SITUATION (ID or AR)
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2. EXPLAIN DANGER TO USER & REQUEST PERMISSION TO ISOLATE
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   +---> PERMISSION GRANTED  --> Isolate, Cap Off, Affix Label, Issue Notice (COMPLETE)
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   +---> PERMISSION REFUSED
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3. DO NOT BREACH PEACE OR FORCE ENTRY
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4. AFFIX 'DO NOT USE' WARNING LABEL TO APPLIANCE
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5. COMPLETE WARNING NOTICE ('Permission Refused' noted in signature box)
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6. IF IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS (ID):
   Immediately telephone National Gas Emergency Service (0800 111 999)
   Request Emergency Service Provider (ESP) attendance under Rights of Entry
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7. LOG ESP REFERENCE NUMBER ON WARNING NOTICE & RETAIN COPY

Not to Current Standards (NCS) — Outside GIUSP Unsafe Tiers

Older teaching materials listed NCS alongside ID and AR. Under current IGEM/G/11 Edition 2, NCS is not an unsafe GIUSP classification. An NCS finding means the installation is assessed as safe but does not meet current standards. Engineers may still advise the responsible person and record the observation on ordinary job documentation, but must not attach ID/AR warning labels or treat NCS as a third GIUSP risk tier.