Housing Association Fined For Unsafe Gas Work | Health & Safety

Housing Association Fined For Unsafe Gas Work

Key Facts:

• Unsafe gas work was undertaken at a property occupied by a pregnant mother and her two children.
• A handyman who was not Gas Safe registered was contracted to cut a gas pipe at the property as it posed a trip hazard. However, this resulted in the property being flooded with gas causing a serious risk of fire or explosion.
• The housing association responsible were fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

The Case:

An HSE investigation was launched into the conduct of a housing association after it was found that unsafe gas work had been undertaken at a property being rented by a pregnant mother. At the time she was residing there with her two children.

In May 2014, a handyman who was not Gas Safe registered was contracted by the housing association to cut a has pipe that was posing a tripping hazard in the woman’s living room. The housing association believed that the pipe was not connected to the proerty’s gas supply. However, when the tenant topped up her gas meter later that day, her property was flooded with gas. This caused a serious risk of fire and explosion, but fortunately there were no injuries or damage caused.

The case was heard at Westminster Magistrates Court earlier this year, where the housing association pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Taking into account the organisation’s ’not for profit’ status, they were fined £2,500 plus costs of £1,000.

What the HSE had to say:

Speaking after the hearing, 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.’

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