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| Cases show that unregistered
installers are dealt with severely |
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| Date:
15/10/02 |
Author:
CORGI |
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THE Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998 came into force on October 31, 1998. Up to March 31, 2001 and in respect of cases taken under these regulations thirty two installers have
been prosecuted for not belonging to a class of persons approved by HSE – ie, they were not registered with CORGI.
Fines imposed ranged from £25 to £2,000 per case heard. However, as the following five case studies show, further charges are often laid in addition to that of failing to be registered.
Case 1: Four people were treated in hospital for Carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty gas central heating system installed in a domestic property by an unregistered installer. The fitter was Prosecuted for three breaches of the Regulations and fined: £2000 for failing to be CORGI registered – Reg 3(3).
£2000 for lack of competence in fitting the
boiler – Reg 3(1) £2000 for leaving an unsafe appliance connected to the gas supply – Reg 026(5)
Case 2: Following an investigation into a dangerous gas fitting report a non registered installer, who removed and refitted a gas fire while installing a
fire surround/hearth, was prosecuted for two breaches of the Regulations and fined: £1000 for failing to be CORGI registered – Reg 3(3) £1500 for installing a gas appliance that was not safe to use – Reg 26(1)
Case 3: Following an investigation into a complaint, it was found that a non-registered fitter had, on two occasions, undertaken gas work and issued gas
safety certificates using an expired CORGI
registration number. The fitter was prosecuted for four breaches of the Regulations and one breach of the HSWA and fined: £50 on two counts of failing to be CORGI registered – Reg 3(3)
£50 on two counts of falsely claiming to be CORGI registered – Reg 3 (7)
£25 for putting persons at risk whilst carrying out gas fitting work HSWA section 3(2)
Case 4: Following investigation into a complaint it was found that a non registered gas fitter had carried out gas installation at three domestic premises. The fitter was prosecuted for one breach
of the Regulations and fined: £1000 – Reg 3(3)
Case 5: An injured person was found unconscious, and subsequently given hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning
(33 per cent) following the unsafe fitting of a flue to a boiler by a non registered fitter. The fitter was prosecuted for two breaches of the Regulations and
fined: £1000 for failing to be CORGI registered – Reg 3(3)
£1000 for failing to ensure that the flue was in a proper condition for safe operation – Reg 027(1) |
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