As part of its latest public safety campaign, Gas Safe has undertaken a survey that suggests that gas engineers are the most trusted of all tradespeople, followed by gas and electricity meter readers, carpet fitters, and electricians (in a poll of more than 2000 householders, 23.5% said that gas engineers are the most trustworthy with the next highest being meter readers at 14.4%).

Worryingly, however, the research also revealed that many consumers are putting their lives in danger by employing tradespeople based on their appearance and behaviours rather than their qualifications and skills to do the job. They look for politeness, good eye contact, confidence, good clothing and a nice smile. One in four people also admitted they decide whether someone is trustworthy within the first five minutes of meeting them.

Gas Safe Register argues that such responses should be cause for concern it believes millions of people are letting unscrupulous tradespeople into their homes and around a quarter of a million illegal jobs are carried out every year by fitters who do not have the correct qualifications and cannot be trusted.

Jonathan Samuel, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register, says: “We know that in the right hands gas is safe, but in the wrong hands badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can be deadly and can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and CO poisoning. With hundreds of thousands of illegal gas jobs being carried out every year in the UK, people are putting the safety of their families in the hands of people they don’t really know and whose competencies they certainly haven’t checked.

“This research highlights the importance of gas engineers differentiating themselves from cowboy tradespeople who are sweet talking their way into jobs. It is great to see Gas Safe registered engineers instilling trust in the public with your appearance and behaviour, but to make sure your customers know that you are qualified to work on gas you should proudly present your ID card when arriving at a job. Seven in 10 people say they would look for an ID card when searching for a trustworthy tradesperson anyway, so why not show them before they have to ask?”

Gas Safe has employed the help of Jo Hemmings, an expert behavioural psychologist, who has reiterated how important it is for tradespeople to win people’s trust by showing them they are qualified. She says: “While human interaction and instinct is vital in helping people determine whether or not to trust someone, people appreciate seeing qualifications. Offering credentials is the only sure way for tradespeople to prove they are trustworthy and safe, particularly for jobs which require legal qualifications, such as gas and electrics.”

The latest campaign is called Trust The Triangle and is designed to remind the public that the only sign of a trustworthy gas engineer is that they are registered with Gas Safe and have the Gas Safe ID card which sports the triangle logo.

Gas Safe registered engineers are invited to get involved on social media with #TrustTheTriangle.