People are being urged to check the credentials of tradespeople doing gas work for them after a man was convicted for a dangerous gas boiler installation.
William Saint, 75, of Cherry Blossom Lane, Cold Norton, was hired to install a gas boiler for a swimming pool at a home in Brightlingsea on April 1 last year – even though he was not Gas Safe registered as the law requires.
At Colchester Magistrates Court last week he was handed a four-month jail term, suspended for a year, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £850 court costs.
Despite several attempts to install the boiler, it did not work and was deemed dangerous when it was later inspected by British Gas.
Even after receiving advice from a Gas Safe Register engineer, Saint failed to rectify all of the faults and the matter was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Mr Saint for safety failings.
HSE Inspector Vicky Fletcher said: "William Saint was well aware that he should be registered with Gas Safe Register in order to carry out gas work, yet he still chose to flout the law.
"People can die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosions. It is therefore vital that only registered gas engineers, who are trained and competent, work on gas appliances and fittings."
Call 0800 408 5500 or visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk to check the credentials of a gas fitter.
William Saint, 75, of Cherry Blossom Lane, Cold Norton, was hired to install a gas boiler for a swimming pool at a home in Brightlingsea on April 1 last year – even though he was not Gas Safe registered as the law requires.
At Colchester Magistrates Court last week he was handed a four-month jail term, suspended for a year, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £850 court costs.
Despite several attempts to install the boiler, it did not work and was deemed dangerous when it was later inspected by British Gas.
Even after receiving advice from a Gas Safe Register engineer, Saint failed to rectify all of the faults and the matter was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Mr Saint for safety failings.
HSE Inspector Vicky Fletcher said: "William Saint was well aware that he should be registered with Gas Safe Register in order to carry out gas work, yet he still chose to flout the law.
"People can die as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosions. It is therefore vital that only registered gas engineers, who are trained and competent, work on gas appliances and fittings."
Call 0800 408 5500 or visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk to check the credentials of a gas fitter.