Solihull man fined for carrying out illegal gas work

Date:

13 June 2011

Release No:

WM443/11

A Solihull man has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for carrying out gas work at an elderly widow's home without being registered to do so.

David Jonathon Jackson, of Winward Way, Smiths Wood, claimed to be CORGI registered when he installed a gas fire and a gas water heater in the pensioner's lounge and kitchen between 1 March and 30 April 2008.

Nuneaton Magistrates' Court heard Mr Jackson submitted a quote and an invoice with a false CORGI registration number. Engineers undertaking gas installation and maintenance work must be registered with the industry body. At the time of the incident this was CORGI. The approved body is now Gas Safe Register.

The widow, who is in her seventies and lives alone in North Warwickshire, subsequently raised concerns about the quality of his work and HSE carried out a joint investigation with the Gas Safe Register.

Mr Jackson pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £400 and ordered to pay £500 costs.

HSE inspector Peter Snelgrove said:

"It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out any work on gas appliances. Although Mr Jackson knew this, he went ahead with the job and even gave the householder paperwork with a false registration number to convince her that he was properly qualified.

"Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Poorly-installed gas work can cause explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal and can also cause serious long-term health problems.

"Anyone who hires a gas engineer to carry out work in their home should always ask to see their Gas Safe Register identity card and contact the Register immediately on 0800 408 5500 or visit the website www.gassaferegister.co.uk if they have any concerns."

Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register, said:

"All too often our investigations team finds illegal gas fitters specifically preying on the elderly, offering discounted OAP rates and using charm tactics. Many use the Gas Safe logo on their van, adverts or paperwork when they are not registered.

"With a quarter of a million gas jobs carried out every year by illegal gas fitters who don't have the skills or the qualifications to work safely on gas, it is vital that householders always check that the engineer they use is on the Gas Safe Register, or they could be putting their lives and pocket at risk."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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. 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 for the purposes of this paragraph."
3. 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 under paragraph (3) above."
4. More information and a full list of registered engineers can be found on www.gassaferegister.co.uk

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands