Illegal Gas Fitter Caught

[Plumbstar Tom]

I'm sorry but after reading the below it seems that the fine is clearly not sufficient as its a lot lower than the training and registration costs it is to be Gas Safe

I do not beleive in illegal gas fitting in any way shape or form but it has worked out cheaper for this Chappy!



Illegal gas fitter sentenced

A man who falsely claimed to be a registered gas engineer has been sentenced for illegally installing gas appliances at addresses in York.
Bennett Morley of Cherry Paddock, Haxby, York, was prosecuted by The Health & Safety Executive for five offences under Gas Safety legislation after complaints by householders.
York Magistrates Court heard Mr Morley carried out gas work while not being competent to do so, and for falsely claiming to be officially registered. The work was so poor that complaints were made by householders and remedial work had to be carried out by a registered gas engineer.
Mr. Morley also passed himself off as a registered gas engineer by completing installation paperwork with a false identity number and advising customers that he was registered with them.
Magistrates heard that Mr Morley had worked for several years with a gas installation company but had been operating as a sole trader when the offences took place. He pleaded guilty to all the offences and was fined a total of £500 with £500 toward costs. He was also referred to a debt counsellor.
After the court case, HSE Inspector Julian Franklin said:
"Mr Morley deliberately misled householders about his qualifications. The work he carried out put people at risk and fell well below standard. While the danger was not immediate, the customers involved did complain, allowing the HSE to investigate and take swift action.
"The HSE will not hesitate to prosecute workmen like Mr Morley who bypass or choose to ignore important safety legislation and thus put people at risk. Registration of qualified engineers with the Gas Safe Register is compulsory and is there to provide the public with confidence in the work that is carried out by gas engineers."
Gas Safe Register's chief executive Paul Johnston added:
"Registered engineers have a Gas Safe Register ID with their picture on it, the date it's valid until and, if you turn it over, it shows what gas work they are qualified to do. If they refuse to show the card, or if you have suspicions they may not be legitimate, report them immediately to the HSE or GAS Safe Register.
"You can also nominate your property for a free gas safety inspection from Gas Safe Register if you've had gas work done in the last six months."
Gas Safe Register deals with all aspects of the downstream gas industry covered by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. It covers both piped natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
The register of 126,000 gas engineers, aims to protect 21 million gas consumers from dangerous gas work. Registered engineers can be found or checked at:
T: 0800 408 5500
W: www.User PlumbersForums.net Instead - Copy the content, don't link to it.co.uk


8th October 2010

 

[kirkgas]

it is ridiculous, surely the MINIMUM fine must be cost of ACS assessment, cost of GSR registration, and £?000 fine as punishment for breaking the law, only then would it be seen a s a deterent

 

[HoodedClaw]

that's not a punishment - that an amount reclaimed through the work!

The scary part is that his day job was a gas fitter on the companys tags.

 

[GrahamM]

It's pathetic!
You see them in every issue of Gas Eng. magazine. Their next illegal gas job will pay the fine and on it continues till they are caught again.
There was one offender that was caught for a second time doing illegal gas work a few months back. His fine was only a few hundred pounds more than he got for his first offence.

Where is the deterrent?

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Exactly there isn't one!

You are playing with peoples lives here and yet doing it incorrectly, dangerously and illegal is punished by not much more than a slap of the wrist

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i wouldn't dream of touching gas without the relevant training and experience. you're dealing with peoples lives for heavens sake!!

 

[dontknowitall]

On the contrary, I'd love to touch gas with one or two of my past customers ...

As I say to my present boiler service ones just before I turn it on ... "Kabooom time!!"

 

[Dan]

It says he was sentenced, did he actually go to Jail or do they mean he was just convicted and fined? (which if that's the case - that is very shocking!)

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

no mention of a jail sentence, I think someone has to die to go to jail now (crazy world)

I need two more deaths on a local road to get a speed camera up so i keep leaving pound coins in the road lol

Here's a pic of the culprit and I apologise as I understated the fine as he had tp pay a victim surcharge of £15 (yes fifteen)

Gas fitter Bennett Morley in court for installing faulty boilers in Wigginton Road and Stockton-on-the-Forest (From York Press)

 

[hamish72]

Poor chap if it was drink driving he could have halved his sentence by doing a safety course the law is an bum as some one said

 

[Gromit]

Just had an illegal installation. No wonder the installer isn't worried. What's the point in me complaining? I'll get no where and matey will continue as he knows he'll only get his knuckles wrapped.

 

[Reg Man]

A little better, still room for improvement.

A Middlesex plumber who put people at risk by illegally working on domestic gas appliances has been sentenced.
Tony MacTaggart (who also trades as TJM Heating and Plumbing) of Pembroke Avenue, Enfield, Middlesex, lied to homeowners about being registered with Gas Safe, the compulsory registration scheme for gas engineers.
An investigation by prosecutors, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found Mr MacTaggart installed a gas boiler in Cranleigh Close, Cheshunt between October and November 2009.
Hertford Magistrates' Court heard the homeowners subsequently complained about his work to Gas Safe, who visited the property and found the boiler in a dangerous condition.
The Gas Safe engineer disconnected the boiler and alerted HSE to Mr MacTaggart's deception. HSE found he had been claiming to be Gas Safe registered, carrying out work and then tricking registered engineers into signing off the installations by asking them to carry out annual gas safety inspections.
Mr MacTaggart admitted breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. He was fined £ £2,500 and was ordered to pay full costs of £902 plus a Victim Surcharge of £15.
HSE Inspector Stephen Manley, said:
"It is illegal for an unregistered person 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 a large fine, they are also putting their customers' lives at risk.
"Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it.
"HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who break the law in this way."
Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register added:
"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.
"You shouldn't take any risks, badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning."

 

[Reg Man]

Re Gromit: Report this work to HSE and Gas Safe Register. Nothing may happen, but if you do nothing, this person will continue to get a way with it. The sentencing laws have changed (2008) and if prosecuted under The Health & Safety Regulations, they could face a custodial. Additionaly if the persons not qualified, you have less confidence that they have done a safe job.

 

[GrahamM]

Hi Gromit.
It can be quite disheartening to read that people are getting away with sub standard or even dangerous work.
You at least have a duty to report this and maybe they wont get off as lightly. Does not help you much but you could prevent this happening to someone else.
At least you can say you tried.