A gas fitter from Walsall has received a suspended prison sentence after he fitted a hob at a house in Tamworth when not on the Gas Safe Register.

Alan Nicholas Price’s work came to the attention of HSE after a registered fitter subsequently carried out repairs on the gas hob.

Price, 57, from Pelsall, was charged with breaching Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations. He failed to appear in court on two separate occasions and was arrested. At Stafford Crown Court, he pleaded guilty and was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and pay £100 towards HSE’s costs.

Gas Safe Register maintains the register of businesses and operatives who are competent to undertake gas work. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations, for a gas engineering business or operative to legally undertake gas work within the scope of the regulations, they must be on the Gas Safe Register.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Wayne Owen said: “When working on gas systems it is vital that the person has sufficient knowledge, training and experience so that they are aware of safe working practices and standards. This is due to the level of risk if gas systems are not worked on and fitted safely. The risk is posed not only to the person carrying out the work but to anyone else who may be in the vicinity of the systems afterwards; in this case the occupants of the house.”

Notes to Editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at:www.legislation.gov.uk
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk