Tag Archives: licensed contractors

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

Poole Gas Fitter Fined After Illegal Boiler Installations Put People In Danger

This article comes from the United Kingdom.  An illegal gas fitter from Poole has been fined after putting people in danger by breaching gas safety regulations.  It teaches us the lesson that we must hire competent, licensed contractors to install systems in our homes.  Colin Yeatman, who lives on Gort Road and traded as COB Plumbing Ltd, installed a hot water system, gas cooker and gas coiler at a new-build property in Poole during 2012, and fitted a gas boiler at a Broadstone house in 2010.

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However, although he was performing work on gas appliances, he was not qualified to do so. He left the appliances in a hazardous condition after falsely claiming to be on the Gas Safe register.

A council building inspector examined Yeatman’s gas work on the Poole property, and discovered that although COB Plumbing had been put down as the installer, the official documents used another gas engineer’s details.

A Gas Safe Register Investigations Officer took a look at Yeatman’s work and discovered seven different defects, two of which were found to put people at risk of injury and death.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was told about the failings and discovered that neither Yeatman nor COB Plumbing were Gas Safe-registered.

Then, in 2013, the owner of the boiler in Broadstone noticed that the appliance was leaking. An engineer was called and identified a number of different defects. The HSE then discovered that Yeatman had used another firm’s details on the official documentation for the boiler installation, and that this other company had been registered as Gas Safe.

In a hearing on April 2nd in Bournemouth Magistrates Court, Colin Yeatman admitted four different breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was fined £1,000 ($1,659) and will have to pay additional costs of £500 ($829). COS Plumbing also admitted four breaches of the 1998 regulations and was fined £10,000 ($16,589) with costs of £8,056 ($13,360).The regulations that Yeatman and COS Plumbing pleaded guilty to breaching are as follows:

  • – Regulation 3(1), which prohibits people from working on gas fittings if they are not competent to do so
  • – Regulation 3(3), which prohibits people who are not on the Gas Safe Register from performing work on gas fittings and pipework
  • – Regulation 3(7), which prohibits people from falsely claiming to be on the Gas Safe Register
  • – Regulation 26(1), which prohibits people from installing gas appliances in such a way as for the appliance to pose a danger to people
  • – Regulation 4, which calls for employers and self-employed persons to take reasonable steps to ensure gas work they control is performed by approved persons

Mehtaab Hamid, an inspector for the HSE, called Yeatman’s actions “quite deliberate”. He noted that the offender was aware that he needed to be Gas Safe-registered if he was to perform his work legally.

Mr Hamid said that Yeatman was not competent or qualified to work on gas appliances, but chose to do so regardless. The substandard work he performed put residents at risk, he added.

Gas Safe Register Chief Executive Russell Kramer advised people to check engineers’ ID cards when the engineer is fixing or fitting gas appliances.

This article was written by Kevin Burke on behalf of boiler breakdown cover specialists 247 Home Rescue.

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

CHILD SAFETY DURING HOME IMPROVEMENTS (GUEST POST)

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If your home is undergoing major renovations, it’s not always possible to simply keep the kids away until the job is done. For that reason, there are a few safety practices that every parent should be aware of during home improvements.

1. Talk to your kids about the project

If your kids are old enough, a quick conversation about the project can be enough to prevent most accidents. Talk about any potential dangers from the project, including breathing dust, falling debris. or even just being underfoot when workers are busy. Set clear rules for behavior during the project, and explain why those rules are necessary for safety.

2. Separate the work zone from the rest of the house as much as possible

One of the best rules you can make for kids is simply to stay away from the work zone. This may be more difficult if you’re remodeling your kitchen, but in most cases you can cordon off the zone and make it “off-limits”. Not only will this protect your kids from the dangers in the work zone, it’ll also reduce the likelihood of workers bringing other hazards out of the work zone (spare nails, tacks, shards of tile or masonry, etc.)

3. Ask contractors about their safety practices

If you’ve hired a contractor to perform your renovations, be sure to have a conversation about safety practices before you sign. Find out who the supervisor on site will be, and what kind of insurance the contractor carries. It might go without saying, but you should never hire a contractor who isn’t licensed and accredited—because holding them accountable in the event of negligence or breach of contract will be a lot more challenging.

4. Double-check for construction and demolition waste

When the project is over, clean the area thoroughly. Dust, paint fumes, and other potential toxins and allergens can linger if the area isn’t properly wiped down. (This can be especially problematic for toddlers, who are more inclined to contact walls and floor with their hands and mouth.) Also be on the lookout for large debris that can have jagged edges, as well as exposed nails or carpet tack strips.

5. Don’t forget to restore any childproofing

Be sure to check your childproofing and replace it if necessary.  Especially if you’ve had a kitchen or bathroom remodeled, the chemicals under your kitchen sink and bath vanity may not be secured against small children after a project. It’s a small detail, but too often overlooked. Also, make sure any child locks on doorknobs are still present and intact—they’ll be in the line of fire if heavy objects are being carried in and out of the house, and usually aren’t robust enough to take much of a beating.

 

Mike Freiberg is a staff writer for HomeDaddys, a resource for stay-at-home dads, work-at-home dads, and everything in between. He’s a handyman, an amateur astronomer, and a tech junkie, who loves being home with his two kids. He lives in Austin.