Although this Blog is
dedicated to helping disable those barriers that exist in our churches that prevent
anyone from developing a life within a worshiping community, there are other
issues that must be mentioned that our churches, and the vulnerable need to be
aware of. The following is one such instance where the Health and Safety Executive
has reported on a case of an unregistered gas fitter. This is a major problem,
and one that potentially threatens life if the unscrupulous fitters make a very
poor attempt at fitting gas pipes together.
“An unregistered gas
fitter has been sentenced for illegally installing a gas boiler and undertaking
landlord’s gas safety checks at a tenanted property. The boiler he installed
was later classed as dangerous.
Christian Winter, 35,
trading as CJS Winter Plumbing & Heating Services of Ashburton, Devon
installed the gas boiler at a property on Park Road, Kingskerswell. He then
undertook landlord’s gas safety checks at the tenanted property despite him
having no competencies in gaswork or being registered with Gas Safe Register
for any gaswork.
Further he then deceived
the landlord of the property by using a fictitious Gas Safe Register registration
number on the landlord’s gas safety records he produced.
Exeter Crown Court heard
Mr Winter’s illegal gaswork came to light when the boiler he had installed and
which he then passed as safe over the next three years was inspected by a
properly registered member of Gas Safe. The gas engineer found a number of
faults on the gas installation and classed the gaswork as dangerous.
On investigation the
Health and safety Executive (HSE) found Christian Winter had used fraudulent
Gas Safe registered details to deceive the landlord. When the landlord was
informed of the defects she challenged Christian Winter but he continued to lie
to her by stating that he was a registered gas engineer.
Mr Winter, Westabrook,
Ashburton, Devon pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and 3(7) of the
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 3(2) of the
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was given a suspended prison
sentence of 12 months; ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work and to pay £3,327.80
costs.”
