An unregistered gas fitter who illegally carried out work on properties across Nottingham with falsely issued gas safety certificates has been given a 12-month community service order and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Paul Anthony Bailey (54) of Bridgnorth Drive, Nottingham, who traded as P A Bailey Plumbing and Heating. He pleaded guilty to breaching three sections of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £750.
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The court heard that Mr Bailey falsely claimed to be CORGI (Council of Registered Gas Installers) registered, when he carried out gas fitting work between 1 October 2008 and 31 January 2009 at premises on Broadfield in Calverton, and Radford Road in New Basford.
In addition, Mr Bailey issued gas safety certificates, using a false CORGI number, to premises on Radford Road in New Basford, Leander Close in Wilford and Long Hill Rise in Hucknall.
He also installed a gas boiler in industrial premises on Radford Road in New Basford, without the competence to do so.
Two complaints were received about Mr Bailey’s work. One following an industrial job where he incorrectly installed a boiler in a garage, putting workers at risk, and the other related to the installation of a new boiler for a domestic heating system.
HSE Inspector David Butter said:
“Mr Bailey was not qualified to carry out this work on both private and commercial properties and by doing so put other workers at risk. While he had completed training at night school and was qualified, he had not registered with CORGI.
“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.”
Additional information:
1.These offences occurred prior to Gas Safe replacing CORGI.
2.If you want to check that your gas fitter is Gas Safe registered, log onto www.gassaferegister.co.uk [1] 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 [2] 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[3]
5.The requirements of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 breached in this case are:
Regulation 3(1) states that no person shall carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or gas storage vessel unless he is competent to do so.
Regulation 3(3) 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.
Regulation 3(7) states that no person shall falsely pretend to be a member of a class of persons required to be approved.
