An award-winning gas specialist has described the “emotionally taxing” week he spent at an explosion in Heysham that claimed the life of a two-year-old boy.
Steve Critchlow, a principal registered gas engineer at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), was called to Mallowdale Avenue, following the blast in May 2021, which claimed the life of George Hinds.
Emergency services attended and found two houses collapsed with serious damage to a third property.
A criminal investigation was launched in the days following the explosion and detectives, assisted by gas experts, identified the cause of the explosion as a gas pipe which had been cut inside number 20 Mallowdale Avenue.
He stayed at the site for a week as part of his investigation for HSE with his report later supporting the conviction of Darren Greenham, from Ambleside Avenue in Lancaster, who received 15 years in jail for manslaughter, damaging a gas meter and theft of gas.
A criminal investigation was launched in the days following the explosion and detectives, assisted by gas experts, identified the cause of the explosion as a gas pipe which had been cut inside the property.
Investigations proved that Greenham was responsible for cutting the pipe with an angle grinder planning to steal the pipework. The gas meter was also found to have been bypassed in order to steal gas.
Enquiries showed in the months leading up to the explosion that Greenham had been cutting and stealing other piping from within the property intending on selling it for scrap metal.
“It was a very emotionally taxing and high-profile case,” Steve said.
“You can have a really massive incident that takes a lot of work.
“The explosion was caused by a next-door neighbour tampering with their gas installation and my work involved attending the scene, doing some laboratory testing and producing a report.”
Steve (pictured above), who was named this year’s Engineer of the Year at the National Gas Industry Awards made the comments during this year’s Gas Safety Week, an annual awareness week with the goal of keeping the nation gas safe.
The 50-year-old has also investigated fatal gas explosions in the Cairngorms in 2015 and in Shaw, Oldham, in 2011.
Alongside his investigation work, Steve’s role at HSE requires him to appear in court as an expert evidence provider for gas-related prosecutions.
In July 2023, Steve’s incident investigation work saw him named as Engineer of the Year at the National Gas Industry Awards.
All too often, Steve has seen what can happen when employers do not adhere to gas safety regulations, which is why he believes it so important businesses safely maintain their gas installations.
He said: “It is very tempting for businesses to try and save money, to try to save time by not looking after their gas installations.
“It’s a highly regulated industry and the reason for that is because we know it can go wrong with fires and explosions and there is also a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if appliances are not maintained regularly.
“Businesses using gas have a duty to maintain their gas installations and if they don’t, then it is imperative HSE takes action against them. That sends the clear message that we have regulations, guidance and standards in place you have to follow to ensure safety.”
Reflecting on this year’s Gas Safety Week theme encouraging diversity among Gas Safe Registered engineers, Steve commented: “Things are improving, there is an increasing number of women going in to gas engineering and why shouldn’t they be – it is open to all people. The gas networks are increasing the number of women in their workforce, so there are definite steps in the right direction.
“Diversity needs to be normalised. There are around 56 million people with gas appliances in their homes – it’s increasingly important that the trusted engineers who keep those families safe must better reflect the communities they are serving.”
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