Dangerous Gas Fitters

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.”