Plumber Prosecuted for Breaching Health and Safety Regulations
A plumber from Ipswich has been awarded community service after several breaches of health and safety regulations put lives in danger. The 44-year-old Andrew Davies worked illegally on gas appliances without having the legal requirements to carry out the repairs, Ipswich Magistrates Court heard last week.
Mr. Davies had issued an invalid safety record to the Kwan Thai restaurant in Ipswich when attempting to work on the gas fittings and appliances in the establishment. An investigation by Gas Safe and Ipswich Borough Council found his work to be so substandard that it posed “an immediate danger to the life of the property.”
“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,” Health and Safety Executive Ivan Brooke revealed.
Mr. Davies received a prohibition notice from HSE earlier this year to prevent him from working on gas appliances until he had obtained the required registration from Gas Safe. He pleaded guilty to breaching 1998 Gas Safety Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work etc. 1974 and was told to pay £3,527 in addition to 100 hours of community service.
“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,” Gas Safe Register Chief Executive, Paul Johnston concluded.
