Gas fitter in court for illegal gas work in Twickenham

Monday, June 29th, 2015 - Health and Safety Executive

A qualified gas fitter has been fined for deliberate breaches of Gas Safety regulations despite having worked in the gas industry for many years.

Gary Byrne, 38, a qualified gas fitter was registered with Gas Safe Register through a former employer. However his registration ended when his contract ended but he continued to do gas work. This included issuing a landlords gas safety certificate using the Gas Safe registration details of his former employer on the form.

While still not Gas Safe registered, he replaced a boiler at a property in Twickenham. However Byrne did not return to finish the work and the boiler was later found to be dangerous due to defects with the flue, which risked carbon monoxide leaking into the property.

On 24 June 2015, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that Mr Byrne had left the boiler without effectively sealing it off from the gas supply.

Mr Byrne, of Wyeth Close, Taplow, Maidenhead, pleaded guilty to three breaches of gas safety regulations and was fined a total of £3,500 plus £120 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £1,284 in costs.

HSE Inspector Alexandra Neal said: “Mr Byrne was not Gas Safe registered when he worked on gas appliances in two properties. Registered gas engineers are subject to checks and assessments to ensure their work is carried out safely.

“By deliberately choosing to work while unregistered Mr Byrne avoided these checks and as a result put the lives of members of the public in their homes at risk.“

Further information on domestic gas safety issues can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic