07 Feb 2012
A gas engineer not registered to carry out work left one property in Cheltenham at risk of explosion and himself open to a public liability insurance case, a court has heard.
Christopher Clark, 39, lied to a householder about being registered after commissioning a central heating system at a property in Upper Norwood Road between December 1 2010 and February 28 2011, Cheltenham magistrates heard.
He was taken to court by the Health and Safety Executive, which found that Mr Clark was not registered with Gas Safe Register as his paperwork had expired at the beginning of 2010 - and he was therefore not able to legally carry out the work.
A leak was discovered with the connection at the boiler, necessitating a disconnection of the supply while a registered engineer remedied the problem. The HSE found Mr Clark had also carried out work for the same client at another property in the town on Fairfield Avenue on July 29 2010.
Clark, of Boddington, admitted breaching gas safety regulations and was fined £16,000 and £800 costs. Having public liability insurance in place can help absorb many costs incurred in business, but it goes without saying - check your paperwork.
Copyright Press Association 2012
