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Walney gas fitter is fined over safety breach
A HEATING company has been fined £4,500 for installing a boiler without being properly qualified.
Furness magistrates told Lakeland Underfloor Heating Specialist boss, Andrew John Major, that it was “really by luck” he wasn’t facing a more serious charge.
The company, of Hartington Street, Barrow, installed a Wolf combi boiler in the loft at Bank House Farm, Broadgate, in Hallthwaites.
The court was told by Health and Safety Executive inspector Clint Backhouse how, following a dispute with the property owner about Major’s Corgi registration, another firm discovered a leak where a pipe connected to the boiler and other installation faults in February 2006.
Yesterday Mr Major, on behalf of his company, pleaded guilty to allowing a person, not a member of a class of persons approved for the time being by HSE, to carry out installation work on the boiler.
He also admitted work on the boiler was not carried out in accordance with appropriate standards and in such a way as to prevent danger to any person.
Major, of Irwell Road, Walney, said his firm had not traded since September, last year, and admitted he was in the wrong.
He said he had never needed to be Corgi trained as they mainly dealt with oil heated properties in rural areas. He added that he had tried to get a registered gas fitter to check what had been done but had found it difficult as he needed a specialist.
Presiding magistrate, Mr David Brierley, told Major: “This is a very serious matter and the fact that any company would undergo work when they are not qualified is a matter the court takes very seriously.
“You installed it and then didn’t get a Corgi registered fitter to check it. It is really by luck that this wasn’t a more serious matter still.”
Major was fined £1,000 for each offence and ordered to pay full court costs of £2,732.20.
A HSE spokesman today warned South Cumbrian businesses and residents to check that gas workers are appropriately accredited by Corgi before allowing them to carry out gas fitting or repair work.
He said: “Gas appliances that are faulty or poorly installed can lead to death from carbon monoxide poisoning and fire or explosion. That is why the law requires those working on them to be fully trained and registered with Corgi.
“Fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities in this case, but the potential for disaster was there. It was first discovered there was a problem with the boiler installation because the engineer brought in by the property owner, detected a strong smell of gas when entering the loft at the outset.
“It was very fortunate that the leaked gas had not found a source of ignition by then. This occurrence has shown, fortunately without serious consequences, how important it is for anyone carrying out work on gas systems to possess the necessary expertise, something that the statutory registration scheme run by Corgi is there to ensure.”
Sent: 25/04/2007 17:46:06
Email us direct at: repairs@londonheatingservices.co.uk
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