Date:
Reference: GSL6 (pka GES14)
Dear (Sir or Madam)
Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974
Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998
Premises: (Please fill in details of relevant premises)
I have been informed that you carried out work at the above premises and problems were subsequently
found that affected gas safety.
These were (Please fill in details of the matters of concern)
Regulation 3 (1) of the above Regulations states that no person shall carry out any work in relation to a
gas fitting unless competent to do so. Competence depends on a combination of training and
experience; those carrying out gas work whether self employed or as part of a business are required to
have their competence assessed by an accredited certification body and to be registered with or be
employed by a business registered with the Gas Safe Register™.
Note: The definition of gas work includes, but is not limited to:
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installing or re-connecting a gas fitting;
maintaining, servicing, permanently adjusting, disconnecting, repairing, altering or renewing
the fitting or purging it of gas or air;
where the fitting is not readily movable, changing its position; and
removing the fitting.
However, the definition does not include the disconnection and subsequent re-connection of an
appliance that is connected to the gas supply by a bayonet fitting. For example moving a cooker
for cleaning purposes.
While a non-registered person may carry out ‘wet work’, i.e. install water pipes and radiators for
a central heating system, any work on the boiler itself and the final connection of the water
pipework to the boiler must be performed by a Gas Safe Register™ engineer.
It is not acceptable for a registered engineer to ‘sign-off’ gas work performed by a person who is
not registered in an attempt to circumvent the legal requirements. Where this occurs both the
registered and unregistered engineer may face prosecution.
(Please amend the following sentence according to whether a Prohibition or Improvement
Notice is being served) I enclose a Prohibition Notice requiring you immediately to stop carrying out
gas work identified in the Notice until you have attained the necessary competence and registered with
the Gas Safe Register™ / I enclose an Improvement Notice requiring you to become registered with the
Gas Safe Register™ by (Please insert a required by date). The Schedule to the Notice indicates in
more detail what must be done but you should contact me if you are unclear about anything. You must
obtain registration under the Gas Safe Register™ before you recommence gas work if you propose to
work in premises for which it is required (i.e. domestic and commercial premises, holiday caravans,
etc).
I would strongly recommend that you read the notes accompanying the Notice that detail the
penalties that the courts could impose for failure to comply with the Notice.
(Please use paragraph 1 below if you are in England or Wales and paragraph 2 below if you are
in Scotland)
1) Failure to comply with the Notice is likely to result in you being prosecuted and liable on summary
conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding £20,000, or
both. There are higher penalties for conviction on indictment
OR
2) Failure to comply with the Notice is likely to result in a report being submitted to the Procurator Fiscal
recommending legal proceedings.
The notes also outline your right to appeal against the Notice to an Employment Tribunal. Further
details are provided in leaflet ETS 19, enclosed. Additionally, I would draw to your attention the sections
concerning Public Registers of Enforcement Notices and Public Availability of Enforcement Information
on Other Notices, which informs you of a 14-day period to notify us if the Notice contains commercially
sensitive material.
Can you please let me know what action you propose taking in order to comply with the attached notice.
In view of the importance of this matter, would you please reply within 10 days.
Yours faithfully
(Name)
(Job Title)
Enc: ETS 19
Further information on gas safety is available from:HSE Gas Safety Advice Line freephone 0800 300 363 or the HSE website at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/index.htm.
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To find a registered engineers contact Gas Safe Register at (insert phone number) or
www.gassaferegister.co.uk
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