County Londonderry based company BC Plumbing and Heating Limited has been fined £12,000 for healthy and safety failings, following an investigation focusing on the installation of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) at new housing developments.
The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) led the prosecution based on health and safety failings between 2016 to 2018 that led to dangerous gas installations in several new build domestic properties at sites in County Antrim and County Londonderry.
BC Plumbing and Heating Limited was fined a total of £12,000 for failing to ensure gas work was carried out in a safe manner and in accordance with appropriate standards.
The investigation by HSENI centred on the installation of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) at the new housing developments. CSST is commonly used in the gas industry, and it has specific installation requirements which must be followed to ensure gas installations are safe.
In this case, the method of installation of the pipework was unsafe and not in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation requirements. In several instances, gas installations were classified as ‘immediately dangerous’ due to the increased risk of gas leaks. Appropriate remedial action was taken to ensure each of the installations were made safe.
Speaking after the hearing, Kiara Blackburn, an inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team, said:
“All gas engineers have a duty to ensure the work they carry out in relation to gas installations is safe and without risk to any person including homeowners. All works must be carried out in line with appropriate standards, manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with Gas Safe Register requirements.”
