The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a joiner who worked as an unlicensed gas fitter.

In October 2007, Jim Price – who operated professionally as ‘Jim the Joiner’ – removed an old gas boiler from a house in Pinners Way in Middlesex and installed a new one, although he was not licensed to do so. The installation was not carried out correctly and the homeowner had to hire another gas fitter who was registered to put right the installation.

On Thursday (26/11/09), Mr Price – formerly of Bury St Edmunds but now residing at Ravenscroft Road in Beckenham, Kent – pleaded guilty to working on a gas boiler while not registered, in breach of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998. He was fined £250 and ordered to pay the householder involved £1,150.74. He was also asked to pay costs of £250.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Andrew Saunders said that when unqualified workers tried to bypass the law in this way ‘they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine – they are also putting their customers’ lives at risk’.

Mr Saunders led the investigation into the work carried out by Mr Price and added:

‘It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out work on a gas appliance. Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially dangerous

‘Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it. Those employing someone to carry out work on a gas installation such as a boiler or fire should first make sure the person is fully registered with the Gas Safe Register.

‘HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who flout the law in this way,’ warned Mr Saunders.

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