Plumber's attempt to lay a gas pipe could have blown up a mobile home (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Plumber's attempt to lay a gas pipe could have blown up a mobile home

5:14pm Friday 26th March 2010 in

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A SELF-EMPLOYED plumber whose work on a gas pipe left a mobile home at risk of blowing up has been fined £1,000.

Harlow Magistrates’ Court heard today that Michael O’Sullivan of Winter Way in Waltham Abbey laid gas pipes without ensuring there was proper ventilation.

The court was told that any gas leak could have accumulated underneath the home at the site in Breach Barns in Galley Hill, Waltham Abbey and formed a deadly mixture.

The botched job only came to light when residents contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in early 2009 after discovering unsafe fittings on cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas used for heating and cooking.

O’Sullivan was not registered to work on gas equipment and his work was found to be unsafe by HSE gas specialists investigating the complaints.

The HSE issued the self-employed plumber with an immediate prohibition notice, banning him from carrying out any further gas work until he qualified and registered. HSE also warned all residents of the site about his work.

Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Steve Hook said: “If one of these pipes had leaked gas underneath the mobile home, it could have seriously endangered people’s lives. It was extremely fortunate the poor workmanship was discovered before it was too late.

"It is illegal for an unregistered person to carry out such work. When unqualified workers try to bypass the law in this way they are not only putting themselves at risk of prosecution and a large fine, they are also putting people’s lives at risk.

The management company of the site, Sines Parks Ltd, which hired him to do the work, was also fined £2,500 with £2,000 costs for not checking that O Sullivan was registered.

Mr Hook added : “Companies also have a legal obligation to ensure anyone commissioned to work on gas equipment is legally qualified to do the job. It is easy to check if someone is registered with the Gas Safe Register and there is no excuse for failing to make that check.

“There is a reason the HSE operates the Gas Safe Register – working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially dangerous. Getting it wrong can cost lives.”