DIY gas thread - I'm confused

[Old Salt]

They could well do if Joe knew he shouldn't be doing it. More likely to occur after a gas explosion, leak or other catastrophe unfortunately.

 

[Old Salt]

The HSE website is quite clear

“Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work. The gas engineer's competencies are clearly marked on the back of the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card.”

It goes on to say that the Gas Safe Register will work closely with HSE to take enforcement action where necessary.

 

[boolie]

The HSE website is quite clear

“Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer and competent in that area of gas work. The gas engineer's competencies are clearly marked on the back of the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card.”

good find - my reading of that is that customers can only employ gas safe engineers for any work related to gas

 

[JohnD]

employed

DIY GAS

 

[boolie]

Oh I see what you mean - that doesn't apply to DIY. Good spot

 

[bernardgreen]

Yeah competence needs to be demonstrated not just through qualifications but appropriate experience and training.

Competence can only be demonstrated by examination of work the person has carried out.

Experience and training can be ignored if the person chooses to.

Having records that prove the person had the required training and experience cannot not ( should not ) make a person competent if their work is below the required standard.

 

[Old Salt]

Competence can only be demonstrated by examination of work the person has carried out.

Experience and training can be ignored if the person chooses to.

Having records that prove the person had the required training and experience cannot not ( should not ) make a person competent if their work is below the required standard.

Agreed to a certain extent but there is a difference between doing a competent job on any particular day and having the training and experience to do the job consistently and competently everyday. As far as I can ascertain diy gas work is not illegal but if it goes pear shaped the person carrying out the work would find themselves in a court of law.

The Gas Safe website cites 66% of work carried out in 2017 by illegal gas engineers was identified as being unsafe it goes onto say that

“During 2017, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the national independent watchdog responsible for the prosecutions of unregistered gas engineers, has issued more than £800,000 in fines and prosecutions have resulted in a combined 5 years of jail time”.

 

[boolie]

As far as I can ascertain diy gas work is not illegal but if it goes pear shaped the person carrying out the work would find themselves in a court of law.

This. I think you've hit the nail on the head. That is the correct interpretation of the law and makes sense

 

[bernardgreen]

As far as I can ascertain diy gas work is not illegal but if it goes pear shaped the person carrying out the work would find themselves in a court of law.

That is my understanding of the situation.

 

[boolie]

Just imagine how it would pan out if the HSE took a diyer before a judge.

HSE: this man is incompetent your honour
Judge: please list the faults in his gas hob installation
HSE: there were no fault's m'lord it was a text book installation
Judge: I'm fining the HSE 5000000 pounds for wasting courts time. Case closed

 

[JohnD]

Agreed to a certain extent but there is a difference between doing a competent job on any particular day and having the training and experience to do the job consistently and competently everyday. As far as I can ascertain diy gas work is not illegal but if it goes pear shaped the person carrying out the work would find themselves in a court of law.

The Gas Safe website cites 66% of work carried out in 2017 by illegal gas engineers was identified as being unsafe it goes onto say that

“During 2017, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the national independent watchdog responsible for the prosecutions of unregistered gas engineers, has issued more than £800,000 in fines and prosecutions have resulted in a combined 5 years of jail time”.

Were any of these people DIYers working unpaid in their own homes?

 

[denso13]

Competence can only be demonstrated by examination of work the person has carried out.

That isn't what the law says.

 

[denso13]

That is the correct interpretation of the law and makes sense

You are either completely ignoring what the law says or deliberately lying.

 

[bernardgreen]

That isn't what the law says.

In some situations the law is an ass.

In some situations ( gas and other activity ) strict obeyance of the law can increase the risk of harm.

 

[denso13]

Just imagine how it would pan out if the HSE took a diyer before a judge.

Or perhaps this...

HSE: this man has carried out illegal DIY gas work and cannot prove his competence your honour
Judge: Is this true Mr Bloggs?
Joe: I must be competent because I haven't blown any houses up yet. I don't know if I am doing it correctly, but the proof is in the pudding.
Judge: I'm fining you 5000000 pounds for flagrantly ignoring what the law says. Case closed