At Merthyr Valleys Homes (MVH), we want our tenants to be as safe as possible and help keep your families out of harm’s way. In order to do this, we ask that you read the following safety guides:

FIRE

Fires not only damage the property but also personal belongings – some things aren’t replaceable, such as photographs or a beloved pet.

MVH and the Fire Brigade are working together to target parts of the borough which are at a higher risk, such as blocks of flats and locations where fires have occurred previously and caused damage. If they visit your home, take this opportunity to have a chat about fire safety and how to keep yourself and your family safe.

Did you know:

• People living in rented or shared accommodation are seven times more likely to have a house fire than owners/occupiers
• Not having a working smoke alarm doubles your risk of being killed should a fire occur in your home
• Candles cause five times as many fires per day than other causes of domestic fires

View our Fire Safety Reports HERE

If you think you could benefit from some fire safety advice, contact Merthyr Valleys Homes on 0800 085 7843 or visit the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service website.

FIRE ALARMS

Fire alarms are essential to fire safety, therefore the government recommends that at least one fire alarm and carbon monoxide alarm should be installed on every storey of your home.

A smoke alarm is the cheapest way to save a life – so don’t remove any which are fitted in your home. If any are broken or missing, please call MVH on 0800 085 7843.

FIRE SAFETY IN THE HOME

The Kitchen

With its electric-powered appliances, stove, oven and flammable cooking oil, the kitchen is one of the most fire-hazardous places in your home.

With most house fires originating in the kitchen, here are some tips to make your kitchen safer:

• Don’t overload electrical outlets with multiple appliances
• Get your cooker checked annually by a qualified gas safe engineer (if it’s gas powered), and that all its connections are safe (if it’s electric)
• Reduce the chance of accidental spillage by turning saucepan handles towards the rear of the cooker
• Store matches where children can’t reach them
• With a deep-fat fryer, DO NOT THROW WATER on to the burning oil – attempt to close the lid or smother the fire with a damp cloth to restrict the oxygen. Consider replacing your cooker top deep fat fryer with an electric one

The Garage/ Shed/ Outhouse

The garage is perhaps the most overlooked place in the house when it comes to fire safety. All those cans of paint, petrol for the lawnmower, the BBQ gas cylinder, bottles of turps and methylated spirits can cause serious damage.

If you want to make your garage safer, carry out the following precautions:

• Make sure you store all flammable liquids in appropriate containers
• If you have a heat source like a water heater in your garage, make sure your flammable items are kept well away from it
• Dispose of paint and oil-soaked rags immediately after use – don’t store them in a pile in the corner
• Disconnect power tools when not in use and never start up petrol powered tools inside the garage
• Consider having a fire extinguisher and smoke alarm in the garage

The living and sleeping areas

To make these areas fire-safe, you should:

• Turn off electric blankets, lights, heaters, TVs etc. at the wall when you’re not using them
• If you’re a smoker, please be fire safe and don’t smoke in bed
• Don’t leave lit candles unattended
• Screen open fires and log burners
• Make sure that you have your chimneys cleaned each year
• Don’t leave embers and ashes smouldering in open fireplaces overnight
• Make sure heaters have at least a metre of clear space on all sides
• Regularly check that all electrical outlets and cords are safe and not loose or exposed

Bathrooms

The bathroom, with its combination of water and electricity, poses another fire safety challenge:

• Turn off and unplug all electric appliances when not in use
• Don’t allow towels or clothes to hang near heaters

Preventing fires in other areas

Wedging open fire doors and keeping mats and other belongings in communal areas can cause fires, promote fire spread, create trip hazards and put others at risk, so please keep these areas clear.

 

GAS

GAS SAFETY

As a landlord, MVH are responsible for making sure the gas appliances we own are working safely and efficiently with our annual gas appliance check and service.

This is how the process works:

• We’ll check the gas boiler and any other appliances we own every year
• We’ll service any existing fires connected to our chimney system
• If it has any issues/faults that may lead to the appliance not operating correctly then it will be isolated and made safe by the engineer
• The remedial work will then be down to you
• We’ll not check gas appliances we don’t own, such as your cooker
• If you have a new gas cooker or other gas appliances, then you should arrange to have them checked and serviced every year
• All checks should be done by a competent person who is “Gas Safe registered”, a person who is a registered gas engineer and can make sure it’s safe. This is a legal requirement.

GAS LEAKS

If you think there’s a gas leak in your home, act straight away:

• Call the gas emergency number 0800 111 999 immediately and notify Merthyr Valleys Homes
• Turn off your main gas supply, if you know how to
• Don’t use a mobile in your home if you suspect a leak
• Turn off all gas appliances
• Open doors and windows to ventilate the property
• Don’t turn any electrical switches on or off – light switches or doorbells.
• Don’t use matches, naked flames or cigarettes
• Go outside or to a neighbour's house
• Don’t return to the property until advised it’s safe by a component person

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

If you have a carbon monoxide detector and it makes a sound for no reason, you must contact Wales and West Utilities on 0800 111 999 and MVH as soon as possible.

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION

Providing the gas appliance is installed, serviced and adjusted correctly, and there’s an adequate supply of fresh air, combustion of the carbon monoxide (CO) will normally be satisfactory.

However, under unfavourable weather conditions, or where an alteration to the building has taken place, this could have an adverse effect on the safety of an appliance. The appliance could break down or the flue duct could become blocked in-between services.

The use of CO alarms provides gas users with added protection, and the early detection of such gases can prevent a gas related incident taking place.

CO alarms shouldn’t be used as a first line of defence against the effects of CO. Regular gas safety checks, maintenance, and correct installation of appliances are very importance.

SYMPTOMS OF CO POISONING

With CO, you can’t see, taste it or smell it, but it’s harmful to both humans and animals, and this is what makes CO poisoning extremely dangerous is its insidious onset:

• It affects mental ability and incapacitates people without them knowing anything is wrong
• Any sudden exertion by an affected person may cause collapse, so that they cannot escape from the contaminated location
• The result is often fatal

The effects of CO poisoning can be very much like flu:

• Severe headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• General body weakness
• Victim’s face can also turn red

HEALTH & SAFETY ADVICE

The victim(s) should immediately leave or be removed from the contaminated area to the open air and inhale pure oxygen.

The victim(s) should rest, avoiding any unnecessary excursion (this can be fatal) and seek medical advice.

You must do everything to ensure your own and others’ safety.

LANDLORDS RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

The GSIUR (Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations) place duties on landlords in relevant premises in both the private and public sector, to ensure that all gas installation pipe work, gas appliances, and chimney systems owned by them are maintained in a safe condition.

LANDLORDS DUTY OF CARE

Under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, their duty of care is to maintain a chimney system serving a gas appliance owned by the tenant.

The landlord's obligation is to ensure that any chimney system that serves a tenant’s own appliance is maintained to effectively remove products of combustion safely.

ASBESTOS

We have carried out asbestos surveys on 20% of our properties, and additional management surveys are currently being carried out. We’ll continue to do these over the coming years.

If you think you may have asbestos in your house contact us now on either 0800 085 7843 or 01685 727772.

LEGIONELLA

PREVENTING LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

Legionella bacteria can be found in the natural environment, however with the correct conditions, legionella can contaminate and grow in hot and coldwater systems.

Legionnaires’ Disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia caused by inhalation of small droplets of contaminated water. We have outlined some simple, but effective control measures that will help keep your heating systems in safe working order.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

It is important that your hot water system is kept hot, your cold water is kept cold and the water in general is kept circulated by regular use.

If, for example you go on holidays, and leave your home empty for a few days or more, ensure on your return that your taps and showers (not forgetting any outside taps) are flushed by running them for at least 2 minutes.

BOILER

It is really important that you tell us if your boiler is not working properly, particularly if you notice any debris or discolouration in the water coming from your taps.

We ask that you do not interfere with the settings on your boiler or hot water system. Following your annual heating service, the hot water will be set so that the water is heated up to 60°C. This is the temperature at which legionella bacteria cannot grow.

SHOWER

If you have a shower fitted it is important that the shower head is cleaned every 3 months. The traditional method is:

Shower Unscrew your shower head and hose and place in a plastic bag, pour in a solution of one-part white vinegar to one-part water and leave for 3 hours (you can also use any general de-scaler). Rinse the shower head and hose thoroughly. This will remove any scale and other sediment which otherwise provides the environment for legionella to breed.

Click here for the leaflet

BAD WEATHER ADVICE

Stay informed and keep up to date with the weather forecast on the internet, television, radio, and newspapers. You can check the latest weather reports here on the Met Office website.

Remember to keep warm to minimise the risk of hypothermia. Make sure your heating is at the right temperature, around 18°C in the bedroom and 21°C elsewhere, so you can keep warm and keep your bills as low as possible.

Use room thermostats or other heating controls if you have them to monitor the temperature indoors. Make sure you have sufficient funds on your pre-payment gas and/or electric metre for a few days.

To help keep warm:

• Wear several thin layers of clothes to trap body heat rather than one thick layer
• Wear clothes made from cotton, wool or a fleecy material to maintain body heat
• Keep warm in bed
• Remember to wear a hat if you go outdoors – a lot of body heat is lost from the head
• Eat well and have at least one hot meal each day
• Have hot drinks throughout the day
• Have adequate heating on at home and take measures to reduce draughts and heat loss

Look after yourself and check on older neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe, warm and well, and layer your clothing and wear shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside to visit them.

Food is a vital source of energy, which helps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day, and (if you can) keep active in the home. Stock up on tinned and frozen foods to prevent you from needing to go out when it’s icy outside.

AWAY FROM HOME?

Empty buildings are particularly at risk during cold weather. If you’ll be away for a few days, consider turning off your stop tap and draining the system. This means there will be no water in the system to freeze, keeping your heating on low will also help keep your home warm and prevent your pipes from freezing.

Make your Home Safe and Warm

Keep your home warm by using draft excluders and closing curtains at night. Draught-proof around windows and doors – seek energy advice on this. Avoid blocking ventilation points in the home

HEATING

Check that your heating is working properly. If you’re without heating or hot water, please contact us on 0800 085 7843 and we’ll arrange for our heating contractor to attend. If we can’t rectify your heating within 24 hours, we’ll supply you with temporary heaters.

WATER

In case water supplies fail, fill a few containers with fresh water for drinking purposes, especially for young children and for infant feeds.

PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY

When severe weather is forecasted, stow away garden furniture and remove loose articles from outside the house – these might cause damage if blown around. If severe weather strikes, stay indoors, and close windows and curtains to protect yourself from breaking glass.

STAY SAFE OUTDOORS

If you must go out, where possible, clear and grit/salt your paths for an accessible route. Make sure you dress warmly and wear non-slip shoes.

Also, tell someone where you’re going and let them know when you’ll get back. If you have a mobile phone, keep it charged and with you at all times. If you’re planning a long trip, take any regular medication and a copy of your repeat prescription.

Make sure you have a list of emergency numbers in case you need to call for help.

CLEARING ICE AND SNOW

MVH has a Winter Maintenance/Snow and Gritting procedure available which sets out what we do and don’t do in snow or bad weather. Contact us for a copy of this policy.

FROZEN PIPES

If your pipes do freeze, you’ll need to act quickly to reduce the risk of them bursting. You should:

• Turn the water supply off at the stop tap
• Try to defrost the pipes by placing warm towels or a hot water bottle on them, or try using a hairdryer on its lowest setting
• Pipes MUST be thawed slowly
• NEVER use a blowtorch or an exposed flame
• Do NOT attempt to defrost pipes if you don’t feel you can carry out this action safely

If the worst happens and the pipes do burst, you should:

• Turn the water supply off at the stop tap
• Try to stop any escaping water with blankets, buckets or towels
• Contact us to report the issue IMMEDIATELY, call us on 0800 085 7843

NO WATER SUPPLY

If your property has no water supply, please speak to your neighbours before reporting this to us in order to determine if your property is an isolated case or an issue regarding Welsh Water that is affecting your street/area. If the whole street is affected, please report this to Welsh Water: 0800 052 0130.

CHECK YOUR STOP TAP

Know where your stop tap is, both internally and externally, and check that it works. You’ll need to get to it quickly and know how to turn it off should the worst happen. If you’re unfamiliar with the locations, please contact us for advice.

OUTDOOR TAPS

Don’t leave a hosepipe attached to outside taps. If you have an outside tap, turn off the valve (which may be inside) and drain down the tap and pipes. This stops them becoming damaged.

CHECK YOUR GUTTERS

If you can, check the gutters and drains are clear of leaves or debris. This will help to prevent blockages and flooding. This can also stop leaks and damage to your walls and roof.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY AT CHRISTMAS

The information in the links below give information and tips on how to ensure you keep your home safe when using extra electrical lights and decorations over the Christmas period.

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/mediafile/100686373/Christmas-Lights.pdf

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/electrical-items/christmas-lights/