Unregistered gas installer put lives at risk

Date:

25 April 2012

Release No:

HSE/M/18/12

An unregistered gas fitter has been prosecuted for illegally carrying out work on a house in Hucknall, putting residents' lives at risk.

Robert Metcalf, 54, installed a new gas boiler at the Long Hill Rise property during August and September 2009, but following problems with the new boiler the customer contacted the Gas Safe Register to check his registration status.

It was discovered that Mr Metcalf was not registered and should not have attempted to undertake such a job. The matter was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for investigation.

HSE found there were a number of defects on the boiler. There was a lack of earth bonding, the pipework sleeve was not sealed where it passed through the wall and the flue was not sealed on the inside or outside of the building. In addition, the pressure relief discharge pipe was sited above a doorway onto a walkway which could have resulted in hot water being expelled onto the occupants.

Robert Metcalf (trading as Metcalf Plumbing), of Valeside Gardens, Colwick, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court to breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £500 with costs of £200.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector David Butter said:

"At the time of carrying out the work, Mr Metcalf was not registered with Gas Safe, and some of the work carried out put residents at risk.

"In order to work legally in the UK, gas installers must be registered with the appropriate approved body. It is essential that homes and businesses 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. 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.
3. If you suspect your gas fitter is working illegally, log onto www.gassaferegister.co.uk to report them immediately. Alternatively, call 0800 408 5500 for further information.
4. 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
5. Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 breached in this case 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.

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