Shepherd's Bush Housing Association (HA) has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs after pleading guilty to undertaking unsafe gas work at a pregnant woman's property.

A Health and Safety Investigation (HSE) found the housing association at fault after a handyman, who was unregistered on the Gas Safe register, cut a gas pipe at the woman's property in May 2014.

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It is understood the pipe was causing a tripping hazard in the living room. The woman lived at the property with her two children.

The housing association believed the pipe was not connected to the gas supply. However, when the woman topped up her repayment meter that evening, gas flooded into the property.

The Chiswick housing association pleaded guilty to breaching its responsibilities as an employer under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

HSE Inspector Zameer Bhunnoo said: "It is essential that landlords have adequate procedures in place to ensure that an appropriately competent tradesperson is assigned for any repairs required.

"In this case, a Gas Safe registered engineer should have been used."

(LM/CD)