Company and director sentenced after carrying out unregistered gas work

A Chelmsford based company and director have been fined after conducting gas work at a domestic property in Mount Pleasant, Maldon without being gas safe registered.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how N Murray and Sons Ltd had been contracted in May 2014 to install two boilers at two domestic properties in Essex. Following the boilers being fitted complaints were made to Gas Safe register.

Gas Safe Register inspectors subsequently confirmed that the gas appliances installed by an employee of N Murray and Sons were considered to be “at risk” and required immediate work to ensure the safety of the occupiers of the properties.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Nigel Murray, director of N Murray and Sons Ltd, had sub contracted gas installation work to his son who he knew was not Gas Safe Registered. It was also found that Nigel Murray was aware that Grant Murray was not competent or gas safe registered but allowed the work to be completed.

N Murray and Sons Ltd of Chelmsford pleaded guilty to breaching two charges of Regulation 3 (2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

The company has been fined £6000.

Nigel Murray pleaded guilty to breaching two charges of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been sentenced to a six-month community order and a 7pm – 5am curfew for four months.

Grant Murray pleaded guilty to breaching two charges of Regulation 3 (1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and he has been sentenced to a 12-month community order and a 7pm – 5am curfew for six months.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Edward Crick said: “Gas Safe Registered engineers are regulated and have to ensure they can prove they are competent. This safe guard is removed when people choose not to register which is highlighted in this case, where the individual placed people at risk of harm in their homes.

“It is important that anybody who has gas work carried out checks their engineer is carrying a valid gas safe registered identification card. They should also check online or call Gas Safe Register to confirm they are competent to carry out the work.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk