Worker sentenced for unregistered gas work

Mr Cody Stevens, an unregistered gas fitter operating as a director of Master Plumbing Contractors Limited, has today been sentenced for carrying out gas work without being registered with Gas Safe Register.

Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr Stevens undertook gas work in two properties in Milton Keynes between 2015 and 2016 when he was served with a prohibition notice on 9 February 2016. At the time, Mr Stevens was also reported to Gas Safe Register for the poor quality of the work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Stevens was not Gas Safe registered at the time he conducted this work. The gas work carried out at one of the properties was inspected by a Gas Safe inspector who found it to be ’at risk’ meaning that the appliance, if operated, may have been a potential danger to life or property.

Mr Stevens of Reynolds Place, Grange Farm, Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(7), Regulation 26 (1), and two charges under Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He also admitted a breach under Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Mr Stevens was sentenced to a 12-month custodial sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Andrew McGill said: “Mr Stevens undertook gas work which he knew he was not registered to do. He also ignored enforcement action taken by HSE against him.

“HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against rogue gas fitters who disregard the law and place lives at risk. Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous, so it is vital that this is only undertaken by trained and competent engineers who are registered with Gas Safe.”

Further information about gas safety can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas

Notes to editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk