Gas fitters have been warned to ensure they are competent and registered before undertaking work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued the caution following the prosecution of a Leeds gas fitter who provided a landlord with completed landlord gas safety records without carrying out the full range of safety checks and worked outside the terms of his CORGI registration.

Duke John York, of Leeds, was ordered to pay £1,800 in fines and costs at Leeds Magistrates Court on 18 April after he pleaded guilty to two offences for failing to discharge his duty under section 3(2) and two offences under 33(1)(I) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He also pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

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There were 37 other offences taken into consideration.

Mr York was discovered to have used his employer's stationery to issue bogus gas safety certificates. When his employer discovered this, he issued a further set of bogus certificates using the details of another gas fitter. A spot check on some of the appliances allegedly inspected by the defendant undertaken by a CORGI Inspector and a Health and Safety Inspector revealed that the appliances had been neither checked nor serviced and were deemed to be "at risk".

"This individual was working outside the terms of his CORGI registration carrying out landlord safety checks," HSE Inspector David Green said. "His actions could have led to tragedy particularly since the tenant of these properties were unaware.

"Landlords should be diligent in ensuring the gas engineers they engage have the relevant training and are CORGI registered, this can be done by checking the CORGI card or website."

(JM/NS)