A gas fitter and building company have been sentenced following unsafe and unregistered gas work.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Valentin Pauliuc, trading as VP Plumbing & Heating, was hired in February 2019 by HSM Builders Limited, the principal contractor for a domestic renovation in South London,
to carry out plumbing and gas work including the installation of a new gas boiler and gas cooker.
However, some of the gas work was later found by a Gas Safe Register inspector to be ‘Immediately Dangerous’, meaning it would be an immediate danger to life or property if connected to a live gas supply, as it was in this case.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Mr Pauliuc was not registered with Gas Safe Register, which is a requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 for people who undertake gas work, and that HSM Builders did not check that he was registered to do the work.
This case is a timely reminder and highlights the importance of making the right appointment of Gas work contractors, ensuring those doing the Gas work are Gas Safe Registered Engineers.
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