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Health and safety failures lead to gas fitter's prosecution

A gas fitter who was not signed up with the Gas Safe Register has been fined £450 for health and safety breaches and ordered to pay costs of £1,346.

Royston Edward Godsell was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after he was found to be illegally carrying out repair work.

The 70-year-old had been warned previously by the HSE about working without being registered but had continued to fit gas fires.

Mr Godsell was prosecuted by the HSE for health and safety failures in July 2008 and was fined £1,000 on that occasion.

HSE inspector Stephan Axt-Simmonds described Mr Godsell's behaviour as "unacceptable".

"Gas appliances which are not properly installed and adequately maintained by a competent registered installer may not operate properly," he explained.

Mr Axt-Simmonds said this could result in the release of deadly fumes into an enclosed space.

This comes after illegal gas fitter James O'Neill of Burnage was fined £2,000 for fitting an unsafe boiler.

Quantum Risk Management are a leading Health and Safety Consultancy

Posted on 23/02/2010

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