At Luton Magistrates’ Court yesterday Mr Tara Rayat, 52, of Toddington Road, Luton, admitted breaching health and safety laws.
A Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigation in March 2010 found that Mr Rayat was approving gas installations under a false registration. He used the identity of a company that he was retained to do work for but was carrying out work in his self-employed capacity. The HSE issued Mr Rayat with an improvement notice to stop working unless he became registered with the Gas Safe scheme, as required by law.
The HSE also found that Mr Rayat was signing off work for a plumber who was unregistered and unqualified. He was issued a prohibition notice to stop.
In February 2011 the HSE received further complaints relating to Mr Rayat’s work following the recent installation of a gas boiler at a house in Clinton Avenue, Luton. The HSE found that Mr Rayat was still not registered with Gas Safe and had ignored the notices issued to him.
After the sentencing, HSE Inspector Stephen Manley, said: “Mr Rayat had been a registered engineer a number of years ago so was well aware of his legal requirements in order to carry out work on gas appliances. He was foolish not to act on the notices that were served to him, if he had, he may have avoided prosecution.
“Not only are unregistered engineers working illegally they are putting peoples’ lives at risk and taking work away from qualified and law abiding professionals in the industry.”
Mr Rayat admitted breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,187.20 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
