Rhondda Landlord Prosecuted For Carrying Out His Own Gas Work, UK
Martin Griffiths, of Herbert Street, Treorchy, was fined a total of £6,000 and ordered to pay £4,478 costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulations 3(1) and 36(4) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at Llwynypia Magistrates Court on 25th January 2008.
Mr Griffiths fitted a boiler by himself at a flat he owned in Mitchell Court, Tonypandy. His tenant noticed there was a gas leak and reported it to Transco, who made it safe.
HSE inspector Hugh Emment said: "Mr Griffiths was not accredited to carry out work on gas appliances and the consequences could have been extremely serious.
"We will prosecute people who work on gas appliances without the proper accreditation. In this case, the risk was fire or explosion but improperly maintained appliances can also give rise to carbon monoxide (CO) which is potentially lethal. You cannot see, smell or taste CO fumes, leaving anyone exposed feeling unwell. In the worst situations, CO can kill without warning in just hours.
"The law requires that only trained, competent people work on gas appliances, and the only accreditation currently recognised by HSE is membership of CORGI. If you are having gas work done, always check the fitter's CORGI identity card before you let them start work."
Notes
1. Regulation 3(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and 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."
2. Regulation 36 (4) states: "Every landlord shall ensure that any work in relation to a relevant gas fitting or any check of a gas appliance or flue is carried out by or by an employee of a member of a class of persons approved for the time being by the Health and Safety Executive."
3. HSE is currently running a competition to appoint a new gas installer registration scheme to start in April 2009. Until then, CORGI is the only body approved to register competent gas installers.
4. More information on domestic gas safety can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/index.htm.
5. HSE advice for consumers is:
a. have all gas appliances checked annually
b. check the CORGI registration of anyone carrying out gas work, including the reverse of their identity card which shows the gas appliances they are competent to work on
c. call CORGI on 0800 915 0485 if you are unsure about a fitter's accreditation
http://www.hse.gov.uk
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