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Gas fitter is fined for breaching safety regulations
A GAS fitter from Barnsley has been ordered to pay out a total of more than £2,000 after being prosecuted for carrying out work while falsely claiming to be registered.
Melvin Scholes, trading as Fieldhead Plumbing, was fined a total of 1,300 and ordered to pay costs of 750 at Rotherham Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received a complaint in January 2007 about Scholes from one of his customers.
Then, in May last year, the HSE became aware of other work carried out by Scholes in Rotherham.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Steven Kay said: "It is important for gas installers to keep their competence assessments up to date and to register.
"Re-assessment is necessary to ensure installers have the necessary skills and by being registered they also keep up to date with current issues and practice.
"Illegal installers undercut the reputable ones and adherence to the regulations ensures a level playing field and a degree of quality assurance for householders.
"Those who try to cheat the system also cheat their customers.
"Gas safety regulation is there for a reason – to stop people being killed or poisoned by carbon monoxide due to unsafe work and unsafe appliances.
"HSE will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who carry out gas fitting work while unregistered."
Since 1998 gas installers need to sit an Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS) test every five years to be deemed competent and maintain their registration.
Scholes had previously been registered, but had allowed his registration to lapse.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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