Worker fined for safety breachesA gas fitter who was operating illegally has been handed a fine of £38,000 after his work caused high levels of carbon monoxide to potentially endanger lives.
Chris Bradshaw, of Tywyn, was fined £10,000 for breaching Section 22 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by working in non-compliance with a prohibition notice and was fined £2,000 for each of the 14 breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1988 he also admitted. He also has to pay £15,711 costs.
Pwllheli Magistrates' Court heard that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) started an investigation after it received a complaint abut work Mr Bradshaw had completed at a house in Tywyn. Work at two further properties was also probed.
In April 2007 Mr Bradshaw had installed a combination boiler and gas hob which were not properly converted from natural gas to LPG propane and, when in use, produced very high levels of dangerous carbon monoxide (CO). Both installations had numerous risks and were not to current safety standards.
HSE Inspector Gary Martin said: "Mr Bradshaw has shown a blatant disregard for the law, codes of practice and standards regulating the domestic gas safety market. Fitters who try to work beyond their assessed competence are not only breaking the law but could also cost lives."
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