Ipswich gas engineer fined for illegal work

Date:

24 April 2012

Release No:

HSE-E-78

A self-employed gas engineer has been fined for carrying out unregistered work on commercial premises in Ipswich.

Duncan Frere, 37, of Wilkinson Drive, Ipswich was hired between May and June 2010 to carry out the installation and connection of a number of gas appliances at the Super Kebab House in Ipswich, and, to carry out safety checks at the Kishmish Indian Takeaway restaurant on 14 March 2011.

Ipswich Magistrates' Court heard that a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Mr Frere was not trained, registered or competent to work on gas appliances on commercial catering premises.

After the sentencing, HSE Inspector Julie Rayner, said:

"At the time Duncan Frere was a registered gas engineer but he was only registered and competent to work on domestic gas appliances, not in commercial catering settings. He is fully aware of the law and should know better than to carry out gas work in an area where he is not competent or has not been trained.

"He put the lives of the restaurants' staff, their customers and their neighbours at risk. HSE will not hesitate to prosecute people who break the law in this way."

Mr Frere admitted breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 as well as Regulations 3(1) and 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 costs. He also had to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

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. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
3. 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."
4. Regulation 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 states: "No person shall install a gas appliance unless it can be used without constituting a danger to any person."
5. The court ordered Mr Frere to pay a separate £15 victim surcharge, the proceeds of which will be spent on services for victims and witnesses.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network