Thomas Dalton, an unregistered gas installer has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for two breaches of the Health and Safety at work etc. Act 1974. The case was adjudged at the York Crown Court in Leeds. The court ruled that Thomas Dalton, a self employed plumber, was not only an unregistered gas installer, but, was also not competent enough for the job.
This was not the only case against Dalton. Records show that he has been indifferent to previous warnings and notices as well. On 19th April 2005, he was issued a notice under the Health and Safety at work etc. Act, which barred him from conducting any gas fitting work. In December 2005, he was sentenced to three months imprisonment as the charges against him were proven in the court. He admitted to ignoring the notice against him, and carrying out gas fitting at a location in Harrogate in May 2005. He also admitted 13 other offences related to compliance failure concerning gas safety regulations.
Despite the conviction, in January 2007, Dalton breached the notice again and undertook the installation of a gas boiler in Harrogate. The installation was improperly executed, which put the lives of the residents at risk as carbon monoxide could have easily leaked into the house.
HSE inspector, Kate Dixon, in a public statement said that, Thomas Dalton put his clients’ lives at grave risk as he was not well trained and seriously lacked the skills to do the job of gas fitting. He carried on with the job despite being prohibited from this work. She also warned all those who might have availed the services of Dalton since 2005 to get their fittings checked by a registered gas installer to avoid any risk.
Following the judgment, HSE has issued a fresh warning to unregistered gas installers. They must get themselves registered with the Gas Safe register to prevent exposing the public to health hazards and to avoid prosecution.
All staff and management must be fully aware of and comply with health and safety regulations as laid down by law. Find out about the range of nebosh training available from the experts at Workplace Law Training.