Legal News
Suspended sentence for unregistered gas engineer who put lives at risk (22 February 2016)
Date: 22/02/2016
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted an unregistered plumber who left a gas meter and gas pipe in a dangerous state in a customer’s home.
Colin Jones, 59, moved a gas meter at the property in The Mede in Exeter and then connected a new gas boiler to it.
He had moved the gas meter as part of refurbishment works at the property.
The new gas boiler had previously been fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Shortly after the work carried out by Jones, the homeowners smelt gas and called Wales and West Utilities, who found two gas leaks – one on the gas meter supply pipe and one on the gas pipe from the meter to the boiler.
They classed the situation as “immediately dangerous” – had the leaking gas ignited, there had been a real risk of an explosion.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident and prosecuted Colin Jones at a hearing before Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 17 February 2016.
Jones of Linda Close in Exeter pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 –
and received a 32-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Jones was also fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay £692 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Simon Jones, said:
“Colin Jones put his customers’ lives at risk by carrying out work on gas pipes and a gas meter, which he was not legally entitled to do.
“A gas meter and a gas pipe that he installed were found to be leaking gas, which is an incredibly dangerous situation – and it is only by sheer good fortune that the escaping gas did not ignite.
“All domestic gas work must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life.”
All heating contractors working with gas are required by law to be registered with Gas Safe – and to carry an up-to-date identity card with them. It is illegal to carry out works involving gas – such as moving gas pipes or installing boilers – without being registered with Gas Safe.
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