A self-employed handyman, Jaroslaw Mazan, has received a 26-week suspended sentence and was ordered to pay £500 in compensation after carrying out illegal gas work that caused a dangerous gas leak in a Birmingham property. The faulty boiler installation was deemed an “immediate danger to life” by inspectors, prompting a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the serious breach of safety regulations.
Illegal gas work posed immediate danger to life in Birmingham
The incident unfolded in November 2023 when Jaroslaw Mazan was contracted by the landlords of a Birmingham property to undertake gas work, including the installation of a boiler. Mazan falsely claimed to be registered with the Gas Safe Register, a crucial accreditation for anyone legally permitted to carry out gas work in the UK. The tenant of the property, witnessing Mazan undertaking the gas work, became suspicious and checked the Gas Safe Register website, finding no evidence of his registration.
Alarmed by this discovery, the tenant alerted authorities. An inspector from the Gas Safe Register attended the property in December 2023 to conduct an urgent inspection of the gas work. The inspection revealed a critically dangerous gas leak on the pipework connected to the boiler, alongside several other potentially hazardous defects. The severity of the leak led inspectors to classify the situation as an “immediate danger to life,” highlighting the grave risk posed to the occupants.
The findings triggered a comprehensive investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. The HSE’s inquiry confirmed that Jaroslaw Mazan had performed gas work without the necessary competence or the mandatory registration with the Gas Safe Register. HSE guidance unequivocally states that only individuals listed on the Gas Safe Register are legally permitted to carry out gas work, and all such work must adhere to appropriate safety standards.
While no injuries occurred in this specific instance, the HSE underscored the severe risks associated with unqualified gas work. Such illegal installations can lead to catastrophic consequences, including gas leaks, fires, explosive incidents, and silent, carbon monoxide poisoning. The regulations are in place to prevent such tragedies and protect the public from incompetent practitioners.
Appearing at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on Friday 12 June, Jaroslaw Mazan pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In addition to his suspended sentence and compensation order, the court’s decision sends a message about the serious legal repercussions for those who disregard gas safety laws.
HSE Inspector Harry Shaw commented on the case, stating: “This dangerous boiler fitting was a disaster waiting to happen, and the resultant gas leak could easily have caused a lethal explosion. The tenant did the right thing – and quite possibly saved themselves from serious harm – by checking the Gas Safe register and alerting inspectors when they realised Jaroslaw Mazan was unregistered. My message to anyone getting gas work carried out is simple; always use a Gas Safe-registered engineer, and if you aren’t sure of someone’s credentials, it only takes two minutes to check.”
The HSE prosecution was meticulously brought by enforcement lawyer Matthew Reynolds and paralegal officer Stephen Grabe, ensuring that accountability was served for the dangerous and illegal practices. This case serves as a vital reminder to both landlords and tenants of the critical importance of verifying the credentials of anyone undertaking gas work to prevent potentially fatal incidents.
This story was originally published by HSE Media Centre
