Beware of illegal gas fitters warns HSE

Date:

10 February 2010

Release No:

YH/048/10

A bogus gas fitter from Manchester was today (10 February) prosecuted after being caught illegally carrying work out at a property in Grimsby.

James O'Neill of Grangethorpe Drive, Burnage, pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at Grimsby Magistrates Court.

Magistrates heard he illegally fitted a gas central heating boiler in a home on Litchfield Road, between 22 January and 29 February 2008 when not Gas Safe registered (formerly CORGI). When the work was checked for safety by the gas registration body, numerous defects were found.

Mr O'Neill, 27, who lived in Cleethorpes at the time of the offence, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs following the prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

After the case HSE again urged homeowners to be vigilant when having gas work carried out on their properties.

HSE Inspector Gareth Lewis said:

"We urge homeowners to be on their guard when having gas work carried out at their properties and to always check the fitter is on the Gas Safe Register. In this instance Mr O'Neill installed a gas central heating boiler at the property when he was not gas safe registered.

"HSE will not hesitate in prosecuting individuals who carry out gas work without proper accreditation, break the law and endanger lives in this way."

Gas engineers undertaking gas work must be registered with a body approved by HSE. The body currently approved is Gas Safe Register as of 1st April 2009. For more information or to check registered gas engineers in your area go to www.gassaferegister.co.uk.

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and 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".
2. Further information on gas safety can be found at HSE's website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/index.htm
3. HSE information and news releases can be accessed online at http://www.hse.gov.uk

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Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI Yorkshire and the Humber