The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a 70 year-old self-employed maintenance worker, who was found to be carrying out illegal gas work at a café and restaurant in St Austell, risking the safety of customers and workers.
Trading as Clyne Catering, Alistair 'Nick' Clyne, carried out servicing and repair work on commercial catering equipment. He was prosecuted at Bodmin Magistrates Court on 24 July for carrying out illegal gas work on appliances.
The court heard that Mr Clyne was not registered as qualified with Gas Safe and had been warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in September 2012 not to undertake any gas work while unregistered.
HSE found that Mr Clyne carried out the work at Pit Stop Snacks in St Austell, repairing an LPG deep fat fryer and water boiler. He also carried out gas work at Simply Jude's restaurant in Pentewan, converting gas appliances to LPG and installing new gas pipework and gas appliances.
The illegal work came to light when the restaurant owner became concerned about the poor workmanship and called in a gas catering company to check the work. Work that he undertook at one restaurant was classed as 'at risk' when inspected, meaning there was a danger to life or property.
Mr Clyne pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(3) and 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 between June 2012 and February 2013. He was fined £375 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000. He was also ordered to pay the restaurant owner £800 in compensation.
