Gas installers advised to be vigilant as
registered fitter is fined
The Health & Safety Executive
issued a timely reminder to gas fitters to take care
when installing appliances. This follows a serious
breach of duty by a CORGI registered fitter -
13th November 2007
A self-employed
CORGI registered gas installer, Azam
Siddiqi, has received a been fine of £500 and
ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of
£2,500 after pleading guilty to installing a gas
fire, but leaving it in a dangerous condition, in a
prosecution brought by the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE issued a warning that - during the busiest
time of the year for installers - they should take
great care when going about their business
Mr Siddiqi, from Oldham, was charged under the Gas
Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998,
Regulation 26 (5)(a), because he installed a fire
that could not be used safely by the house owner.
The residents suffered from the early stages of
carbon monoxide poisoning after blockages were found
in the system fitted by Mr Siddiqi
Anyone
injured in an accident at work in these
circumstances may be able to claim against either
the employer or the gas installation company. HSE
Inspector Richard Clarke said:
“This is an
unusual case as it involves a CORGI-registered
installer, who should have known better. One of
HSE’s roles is to hold all installers to account for
their actions, or in this case lack of actions, in
order to protect the safety of consumers. There was
no excuse for this fire to have been wrongly fitted
which put this family at unnecessary risk.”
Being CORGI-registered is a legal requirement for
anyone installing or repairing gas fittings or
appliances in homes.
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