Plumber jailed for carrying out illegal gas work

Date:

1 February 2012

Release No:

HSE-E-65

A Suffolk plumber who put lives at risk by illegally working on domestic gas appliances has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Paul Jowett, 40, of Nelson Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft, admitted five breaches of gas and health and safety regulations when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court today.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Jowett carried out work on gas fittings and appliances at a number of addresses in the Lowestoft area between May 2009 and October 2010 without being registered to do so, a legal requirement for carrying out such work. Mr Jowett falsely told householders he was registered and used an invalid registration number on the safety certificates he issued.

One piece of work carried out by Mr Jowett at the Red Rose Indian restaurant in Lowestoft was judged by a qualified engineer to be so dangerous it represented "an immediate danger to life or property." As a result of leaking gas, the restaurant was forced to close for two days.

In addition, the court heard that Mr Jowett continued to do work on gas appliances despite a written warning from HSE and being served with a Prohibition Notice on 22 April 2010.

Mr Jowett admitted three charges of breaching Regulation 3 (3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, one offence under Regulation 3 (1) of the same regulations, and a separate charge of breaching section 33 (1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was sent to prison for six months.

HSE Inspector Edward Crick said:

"It is against the law for anyone who is not registered with Gas Safe to carry out work on a gas appliance. When unqualified workers 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.

"To make matters even worse, Mr Jowett was told to stop working on gas appliances, and took no notice. He ignored the Prohibition Notice he'd been served with, showing a complete lack of concern for public safety.

"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."

His Honour Judge Thompson said:

"The seriousness of these offences is absolutely clear. The degree of risk caused by the activities was extremely high."

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 same regulations 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. Section 33 (1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act of 1974 states that it is an offence to "contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an improvement notice or a prohibition notice (including any such notice as modified on appeal)"
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. To find or check a Gas Safe Registered engineer in your area, go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. Find out more about Gas Safety Week - between 12 and 18 September - at www.gassaferegister.co.uk/learn/gas_safety_week.aspx. Please visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/index.htm for more information about gas safety specifically.

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