leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

[admin]

One of my engineers called out to a Zanussi cooker today that needs a grill element, however he noticed that the back plate on the appliance had been removed and the mains terminal block was taped over with electrical tape, mm’s away from the mains terminals was a gas pipe for the gas hob above the cooker (there was no isolator on the gas tap).
Its seems that whoever fitted the cooker removed the panel to make the appliance fit.
We have said that we are unwilling to fit the element with the cooker in this condition, the customer has of course gone mad and said that it’s up to him if the cooker is unsafe, we have said that if we fit the element and allow him to carry on using the cooker without a back panel we are then negligent and open to prosecution should for example the mains terminal block fail and blow a nice hole in the gas pipe.
Am I in the right or is the customer ❓

[Jazzmeister]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

You are entirely right to carry out, or not carry out any work YOU wish!
I am a gas safe engineer and I would DEFINATELY refuse to repair this appliance, if it means he has to have the pipework re-worked then so be it!

Jazz!

[VillageIdiot2]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

appleelectrics wrote:the customer has of course gone mad and said that it’s up to him if the cooker is unsafe

Personally, I’d say there’s the element if you want to fit it, for £Whatever, fill ya boots, then walk.

Ade 🙂

[chezza]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

If the botch was done by the same person that installed the gas , then I would think it qualifies for a report to riddor , http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/guidance.htm#gas , and at the very least an immediately dangerous form for the gas

[squadman]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

I would serve a notice on the customer that having inspected the appliance in your professional opinion the installation and appliance represent a hazard and danger and that you are notifying the householder of these facts retaining a copy for your records. If this idiot then wishes to ignore this notice and should something happen it will be documented that they were advised the appliance and installation were unsafe.

[Jackal]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

Hi

All the above is sound advice.

Send the customer a letter by recorded delivery advising that in your opinion the removal of the cover makes the appliance dangerous and until the situation is corrected, he/she/they should not use the equipment.

As the last qualified person to look at the items, a degree of responsibility for the safety of the users and those around them, come back to you. Should something untoward happen then it is not a he said. I said argument you have the evidence in black and white. It costs about a pound, which IMHO is a pound well spent if it goes tits up.

Regards

Jackal

[odom]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

Or just ask the post office for a free certificate of posting.

I’ve been to a couple of death trap washing machines in tenanted properties where I’ve cut the plug off, to prevent it being used.

[Martin]

Re: leaving the appliance in a dangerous condition?

odom wrote:Or just ask the post office for a free certificate of posting.

You get nowt from the PO for FREE however recorded delivery does guarantee delivery and provides a “certificate of posting” and with it a tracking number. Unless you live on the Western Isles of Scotland, Dudley, Tower Hamlets, isles of Scilly or Wath upon Dearn it will get there and has to be signed for! 😉

I’d avoid all of the above and take Ade’s (washdoctor) advice instead. 😈

[Author]

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