Unregistered gas installer prosecuted

Date:

23 April 2012

Release No:

HSE/M/15/12

An unregistered gas installer was caught illegally carrying out work on a house in Newark.

Mr Phillip Birchmore, trading as PSB Plumbing and Heating, capped off a gas supply at the property in August 2010. He then removed one boiler and hung a replacement boiler on the wall. Concerns were raised about the standard of the work and a Gas Safe inspector was called out to examine it.

It was discovered that the 42-year-old from Newark was not registered with Gas Safe and should not have attempted to undertake such a job. The matter was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for investigation.

At Nottingham Magistrates' Court today, HSE prosecuted Phillip Birchmore for breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

He pleaded guilty and was today given a one year community order and told to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay costs of £3,053.

HSE inspector Steve Woods said:

"At the time of carrying out the work, Phillip Birchmore was not registered with Gas Safe. In order to work legally in the UK, gas installers must be registered with the appropriate approved body. It is essential that homeowners and landlords check this before having work carried out to ensure the job is completed to a high standard and most of all, is safe.

"Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. Our message to everyone is clear - check the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card before letting them begin work and check the details online or by calling 0800 408 5500."

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. Gas Safe Register is the official gas registration body for the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey, appointed by the relevant Health and Safety Authority for each area. By law all gas engineers must be on the Gas Safe Register.
3. Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the gas registration body in Great Britain and Isle of Man on 1 April 2009 and Northern Ireland and Guernsey on 1 April 2010.
4. If you want to check that your gas fitter is Gas Safe registered, log onto www.gassaferegister.co.uk and follow the link to 'check an engineer'. If the engineer is registered, you will be provided with a list of details including a picture of the engineer, contact details of the Gas Safe registered business and what gas work they are qualified to carry out.
5. Free advice on gas safety is available from the HSE Gas Safety Advice Line on 0800 300 363 (freephone service) and by visiting www.hse.gov.uk
6. Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states that no employer shall allow any of his employees to carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or service pipe work and no self-employed person shall carry out as 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 to carry out such work.

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