County Down gas engineer found guilty of gas safety breaches

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) has successfully led a prosecution against County Down based gas engineer Ian Campbell, trading as M.G.B Gas and Building Services.

Ian Campbell was today sentenced in relation to three health and safety offences at Newtownards Magistrates Court. A sentence of four months imprisonment for each offence was imposed, each suspended for three years. These sentences will run concurrently.

The HSENI investigation followed notification that Ian Campbell had replaced a gas boiler at a property in Bangor County Down in November 2022, despite not being a registered gas engineer with the Gas Safe Register. The installation at the property was subsequently classified as ‘at risk’ by the Gas Safe Register, meaning it constituted a danger to life or property. It is a legal requirement for all gas engineers to be on the Gas Safe Register prior to undertaking any gas work.

The investigation also found that Ian Campbell continued to carry out unregistered gas work, despite having been prohibited from carrying out such work following the service of a prohibition notice in February 2023 by a HSENI Inspector.

HSENI Inspector, Kiara Blackburn said: ‘Ian Campbell undertook gas work which he was not registered to do. This is not only a breach of the gas safety regulations, but it also places members of the public, homeowners, and tenants at significant risk from potentially unsafe gas installations.’

Ian Campbell was today further ordered to pay £1,750 in compensation to the homeowner of the Bangor property, and received additional one month imprisonment sentences, suspended for three years for each of the two previous health and safety offences of which he was charged during a previous court hearing on 12 April 2022. These previous offences were also in relation to unsafe gas work.

The Gas Safe Register plays an important role in ensuring gas safety. All gas businesses and engineers must be on the register to carry out gas work legally.

Homeowners and occupants can check if a gas engineer is currently Gas Safe Registered by visiting the following link:

• www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Notes to editors: 

1. Breaches and fines for Ian Campbell are as follows:
   
   a) Article 5(2) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978: Four months imprisonment suspended for three years
   b) Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004: Four months imprisonment suspended for three years
   c) Article 31(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) order 1978: Four months imprisonment suspended for three years
   d) Compensation Order to pay £1,750 to the property owner
   
   In relation to previous offences sentenced on 12 April 2022:
   
   e) Article 5(2) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978: One month imprisonment suspended for three years
   f) Regulation 4 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004: One month imprisonment suspended for three years
    
2. For media enquiries please contact: HSENI Press Office on 028 9024 3249 or email media@hseni.gov.uk. For out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110

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