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The warning follows the sentencing at Grimsby Crown Court, of Lea Fields, a Grimsby landlady, who ignored an improvement notice served on her by HSE, despite receiving warning of the possible consequences if she failed to comply.
The improved notice required that she arrange for a CORGI registered gas installer to carry out safety checks of the gas appliances and flues within a rental property at Barcroft Street, Grimsby.
Despite the notice, the appliances and flues were not checked to ensure they were safe to use.
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Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Chris Chambers said: "Landlords can't hide their heads in the sand when it comes to gas safety. It's their legal duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues are maintained in a safe condition and are checked for safety at least once a year by a CORGI registered gas installer. Landlords who fail to do so put lives at risk and may end up with a substantial fine or even imprisonment."
Following an inspection by a CORGI Inspector called in by HSE, the gas fire and flue in the lounge were found to be unsafe. There was evidence that fumes had been leaking into the lounge and the flue to the fire was found to be leaking fumes into other flues at the property. The gas fire was made safe by the CORGI Inspector who disconnected it from the mains gas supply.
Lea Fields was sentenced to 200 hours community service, and ordered to pay costs of £500 after pleading guilty to breaches of Section 33 (1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulations 36(2) and 36(3) of Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Last year research commissioned by the HSE as a part of its wider gas safety review revealed that 45 per cent of households were unaware of the dangers of CO poisoning from gas appliances, which killed 16 people in 2005/06.
(JM)
