Plumber put lives at risk with illegal gas work

Date:

9 January 2012

Release No:

E58/12

A Milton Keynes plumber who put a householder at risk by illegally installing and working on a gas boiler has been sentenced.

Trading as C&H Services, Christopher Johnson, 45, of 2 Bogart Place, installed a new gas boiler in the kitchen of a residential property in Fairfield Road, Dunstable in April 2010.

He was called back to the house in October 2010 as the resident reported a banging sound coming from the appliance. Mr Johnson determined that the boiler needed a new part. He left the appliance with its casing off but still connected to the gas supply.

After Mr Johnson's visit, the resident contacted the boiler manufacturer which classified it as "immediately dangerous" and disconnected the gas supply to prevent it being used.

An engineer from Gas Safe also inspected the work and confirmed the existence of immediately dangerous defects which posed a significant risk to people in the house. Gas Safe found the boiler and flue were not compatible and the boiler casing had not been replaced resulting in the seal between the boiler and the kitchen becoming ineffective.

Both defects could have resulted in potentially lethal carbon monoxide escaping. The investigation also found that Mr Johnson was not registered with Gas Safe and so was working illegally.

At Luton & South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court today, Mr Johnson pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(1) and 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. Along with a three month community order, he was ordered to pay £475 costs.

HSE Inspector Stephen Manley said:

"It is against the law for anyone who is not registered with Gas Safe to carry out work on a gas appliance - and for good reason. When unqualified people try to bypass the law in this way they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution, and potentially a large fine or a spell in prison - they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.

"Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Only engineers who are qualified and registered should attempt it.

"HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who break the law in this way."

Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register added:

"If you're employing an engineer to fit, fix or service gas appliances, you should always make sure that person is Gas Safe registered. If they say they are, don't just take their word for it. Check they are on the Gas Safe Register and check their ID card when they arrive at your door.

"You shouldn't take any risks, badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning."

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. Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 states: No person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so.
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. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning - around 20 people a year die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is often called the 'silent killer' because you can't see it, smell it or taste it. Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and service gas appliances.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. To find or check a Gas Safe Registered engineer in your area, go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/index.htm for more information about gas safety specifically.
8. Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/press.htm for all press releases from HSE.

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