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HSE WM172/07 15 January 2008

HSE warns safety comes first when dealing with gas after Stoke-on-Trent installer is jailed

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to the public to only allow CORGI registered gas installers to work on their appliances. Every year approximately 25 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed or maintained.

Warning comes after David Mountford, from Longton, Stoke on Trent, was sentenced to six months in prison, on each of four charges, by Newcastle under Lyme Magistrates Court on Friday 11 January 2008. The sentences will run concurrently.

Prosecution followed an investigation into numerous incidents where Mr Mountford carried out work on gas appliances whilst he did not possess CORGI registration. He pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching HSE Prohibition Notices and two charges of falsely claiming CORGI registration. The court heard that work was often carried out under different names, including David Mansfield, and using different company titles.

Speaking after the case HSE investigating inspector Dr Janice Dale said:

"HSE has pursued a long investigation of Mr Mountford’s activities and we are therefore pleased that the seriousness of his activities has been recognised in the sentence. Mountford admitted falsely pretending to be CORGI registered. As the Court heard Mountford was prosecuted for similar gas work in 2005 and was the subject of a Prohibition Notice in 2004 preventing Mountford from carrying out gas work because he was not competent and was not registered with CORGI.

"He chose to ignore this and continued to carry out work on gas appliances, putting the public at risk from both carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosions. Had Mountford been registered with CORGI he would have been subjected to regular scrutiny and checks of his competence.

This case should serve as a reminder to the general public that anyone they ask to undertake gas work must be CORGI registered. If the installer does not have their ID card, you should not let them into your property. You can also check an installer’s registration on the CORGI website. This case should also be a warning to traders that they must be registered with CORGI and only undertake work for which they are qualified and competent."

David Mountford pleaded guilty to:

Four breaches of Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – failing to comply with Prohibition Notices served by HSE, which prohibited him from carrying out work in relation to gas fittings unless and until he became registered with CORGI; two breaches of Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 – for falsely pretending to be a member of CORGI.

Notes to editors

  1. Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by…. a prohibition notice"
  2. Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states : "No person shall falsely pretend to be a member of a class of persons required to be approved…."
  3. Membership of CORGI is granted for 5 years (and thereafter subject to renewal) and members are subject to detailed training and examination (both practical and theoretical). Members also undertake assessments (3 assessments per year) and are further subject to CORGI inspection. This takes the form of a check of completed work being undertaken by an examiner so as to ensure compliance with the necessary British Standards.
  4. The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive and local government are the enforcing authorities working in support of the Commission. See http://www.hse.gov.uk for more information. For more information about hazards at work and occupational health, see http://hse.gov.uk/pubns/ohindex.htm.
  5. For further information on gas safety information contact: HSE Gas Safety Advice Line 0800 300 363 http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic or CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installer) 0870 401 2300 http://www.corgi-gas-safety.com

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Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

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Issued on behalf of HSE by Government News Network North West