A worker has been prosecuted for carrying out dangerous and unregistered gas work at a property in Essex.

Gary Miller, of Fairfield Road, Ongar, has been handed a 12-month Community Order with 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and Section 22 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Miller disconnected and removed a boiler from a domestic property in Brentwood, and installed a replacement with associated pipework, in July 2015.

However, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Miller had previously been issued with a prohibition notice for undertaking unregistered gas work in 2013, and had not since gained a registration.


The work carried out by Mr Miller at the property in Brentwood was inspected by a Gas Safe inspector who found it to be "at risk", meaning that the appliance, if operated, may have been a potential danger to life or property.

In addition, HSE said Mr Miller had intended for a registered engineer to sign off the work once he had installed the gas appliance, which is also not permissible under regulations.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Adam Hills said: "Gary Miller undertook gas work when he knew he was not registered to do so. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against rogue gas fitters who disregard the law and place lives at risk. Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous, so it is vital that this is only undertaken by trained and competent engineers who are registered with Gas Safe."

Jonathan Samuel, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register, added: "Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card, which shows who they are and the type of gas appliances they are qualified to work on.

"We always encourage the public to ask for and check the card, and if they have any concerns about the safety of work carried out in their home, to speak to us."

(LM/MH)