Board enforcement action serves to restore confidence

Friday, 5 June 2015

Board enforcement action serves to restore confidence in Christchurch rebuild

Christchurch man Ross Glynn has been convicted and fined for carrying out sanitary plumbing work without authorisation.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand and it is illegal to do this work unless authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

The reason the provision of these services is restricted is because of the serious adverse effects that substandard sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying can have on public health and safety.

Mr Glynn was uncovered working illegally by a Board officer during an enforcement project in the Canterbury region. This involved an authorisation audit of approximately 80 building construction sites and it identified a number of illegal operators in the area.

Sentenced yesterday in the Christchurch District Court, Justice Couch ordered Mr Glynn to pay an $800 fine, a $113 solicitor’s fee, and $130 in court costs.

The Board is currently following up on all cases of unauthorised illegal operators identified during this Canterbury enforcement project.

The Board’s Chairman, Peter Jackson says; "While the vast majority of tradespeople in Canterbury have been working hard to get the region back on its feet, there remain a few who are undermining their efforts. But thanks to the diligent work of our enforcement project officers, those working illegally in the industry are being uncovered.”

“Most people working in the industry do the right thing and ensure they hold a current authorisation" said Mr Jackson. “Those who choose to cheat the system and put public health and safety at risk will be caught.”

The Board advises all consumers to take every precaution when engaging with plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying service providers, and recommends asking to see an authorisation card before any work commences. This way they can be assured the work is being done lawfully and by a competent tradesperson.

“Don’t risk your family’s health and safety or your insurance by hiring unauthorised people. There are serious health and safety risks associated with plumbing carried out by an unauthorised person. Any defective work has the potential to cause disease and serious damage to the property”, said Mr Jackson.

If a homeowner believes that work has been done by someone who is not authorised, or has concerns about the competency of tradespeople, they can make a complaint to the Board.

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