Plumber endangered customers' lives

Date:

15 October 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-36

A self-employed plumber has been prosecuted after carrying out illegal work on gas boilers that was so bad it put his customers' lives at risk.

Michael Gallimore, 62, formerly of Hengrave Road, Fornham All Saints, near Bury St Edmunds, but now temporarily living in Shefford in Bedfordshire, admitted breaching health and safety laws at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was alerted to Mr Gallimore's illegal work by the Gas Safe Register, which had carried out an investigation following a complaint from a customer. Mr Gallimore had installed gas boilers at houses in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk, and Weeting in Norfolk between 2008 and 2009.

The investigating officer found that the installation at Weeting was 'immediately dangerous' and classified both installations as 'at risk'. Mr Gallimore had also falsely claimed to be a legally registered engineer while working at the house in Weeting.

Speaking after the case Frank Simmonds, 69, who hired Mr Gallimore to work on his home in Weeting, said:

"We asked Michael Gallimore if he was qualified to do the gas work and he told us he was. We asked to see his paperwork and he said he would provide it to us later - but it just didn't appear. I would advise anyone hiring a tradesman to always check and double check the paperwork before you allow them to start work in your home. You think it will never happen to you but it can."

HSE inspector Sue Matthews, said:

"It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on a gas appliance. When unregistered workers try to bypass the law in this way they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk. Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it. HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who break the law in this way."

Mr Gallimore admitted breaching regulations 3(3), 3(7) and 33(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Magistrates sentenced Mr Gallimore to a one year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £4,000 in costs.

Paul Johnston, chief executive of Gas Safe Register added:

"Dangerous gas work can deadly. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. If you're having gas work done, no matter how big or small the job, only use a Gas Safe registered engineer. And always check the engineer's ID card to make sure they are qualified for the work you need doing. Just because an engineer can work on boilers doesn't mean he can automatically fit a gas fire."

Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas engineers who are registered to work safely and legally on gas appliances. By law, all gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register. To find an engineer go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. Always check the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 3(2) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who maybe affected thereby, are not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety."
3. Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 states: "No employer shall allow any of his employees to carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or service pipework and no self-employed person shall carry out any such work, unless the employer or self-employed person, as the case may be, is a member of a class of persons approved for the time being by the Health and Safety Executive."
4. Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 states: "No person shall falsely pretend to be a member of a class of persons required to be approved [by the Health and Safety Executive]."
5. Regulation 33(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 states: "Where a person installs a gas appliance... he shall immediately thereafter test its connection to the installation pipework to verify that it is gastight and examine the appliance and the gas fittings and other works for the supply of gas and any flue or means of ventilation to be used in connection with the appliance for the purpose of ascertaining whether
   1. the appliance has been installed in accordance with these Regulations;
   2. the operating pressure is as recommended by the manufacturer;
   3. the appliance has been installed with due regard to any manufacturer's instructions provided to accompany the appliance; and
   4. all gas safety controls are in proper working order."
6. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning - always use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and service gas appliances.
7. Gas Safe Register is the government approved registration scheme for gas engineers in the UK, Isle of Man and Guernsey. The register of 126,000 gas engineers, aims to protect 21 million gas consumers from dangerous gas work. It is a legal requirement for any gas engineering business or self employed gas engineer carrying out domestic or commercial gas work to be registered under the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998.
8. Gas Safe Register replaced the CORGI gas registration scheme in Great Britain and Isle of Man on 1 April 2009 and in Northern Ireland and Guernsey on 1 April 2010.
9. To find or check a Gas Safe Registered engineer in your area, go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
10. Go to www.hse.gov.uk/gas for more information about gas safety.

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