The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fined a Lancashire plumber for gas safety offences.

Geoffrey Hewitt, 39, of Gordon Street in Bacup posed as Jordan Roger of Gas Heating Services Ltd when issuing gas safety certificates.

Mr Hewitt of ACME Plumbing and Heating Services in Burnley was charged with three offences under Section 33(1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, after he supplied forged Landlords’ Gas Safety Certificates. A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to attend two previous hearings.

On Thursday (22/04/10) at Reedley Magistrates’ Court, Mr Hewitt pleaded guilty to three breaches of Section 33(1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, after illegally carrying out work at homes in Wren Street, Lyndhurst Road and Saxon Street in Burnley between March and May 2007. He was fined £750.

After the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Dorothy Shaw said:

‘Geoffrey Hewitt put lives in danger by issuing fake Landlords’ Gas Safety Certificates, despite not being qualified to know whether the gas fittings in the houses he visited were dangerous or not.

‘He worked in people’s homes over several months,’ said Ms Shaw. ‘By producing the fake certificates, he was able to gain money from unsuspecting landlords and potentially risked poisoning homeowners with carbon monoxide.

‘People should always make sure that gas fitters are registered by checking ID before allowing people to carry out work,’ advised Ms Shaw.

‘HSE will continue to prosecute anyone who carries out work without adequate training, or who falsely claims to be a registered gas engineer,’ she added.

The Gas Safe Register has replaced CORGI as the official gas safety registration scheme in Great Britain – all gas fitters must become members of the register before carrying out any work.

Homeowners and landlords can check whether a gas engineer has a valid licence card

by visiting www.gassaferegister.co.uk or calling 0800 408 5500

© 5r1 Limited 2010