False identity leads to prosecution for Peterborough man

Date:

31 January 2012

Release No:

HSE-E-64

A self-employed plumber has been fined for posing as a registered gas fitter to try to carry out work on gas appliances at a Peterborough take-away.

Francesco Vaira, 61, of Lincoln Road, Peterborough, admitted breaching health and safety laws by carrying out illegal gas work by using a false identity and misleading council officials when he appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court.

During the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution, the court heard Mr Vaira was working at the Balti Hut in Fitzwilliam Street, Peterborough in March 2011 when environmental health officers from Peterborough City Council visited.

He claimed to be a registered gas fitter and told officials he had worked with on a previous project in an attempt to convince them he was legitimate. However, the council checked his credentials and photograph on the Gas Safe Register website and found the defendant was posing as someone 30 years younger.

The HSE investigation found that this was not a one-off incident and that Mr Vaira had carried out similar illegal work on a number of occasions.

After the sentencing, HSE Inspector Stephen Manley, said:

"It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on a gas appliance. When unqualified workers try to bypass the law they are putting people's lives at risk as well as increasing the chance of being prosecuted.

"Mr Vaira had been a registered engineer in 2005 so was well aware of his legal requirements. Trying to pose as someone 30 years younger was not only criminal but also silly as he was bound to be discovered.

"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."

Mr Vaira admitted breaching Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,094.40.

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."

Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe Registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work. Home owners, landlords and others engaging gas fitters should ask to see the ID cards which all Gas Safe Registered engineers carry and which list the areas they are competent to work in. If any doubt you can ring the Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 or check their website www.gassaferegister.co.uk to see if the engineer is registered.

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(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" under Regulation 3(3).
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

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