(1)The general purposes of Part I of the M1Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (health, safety and welfare in connection with work, and control of dangerous substances etc.) shall include protecting the public from personal injury, fire, explosions and other dangers arising from the transmission or distribution of gas through pipes, or from the use of gas supplied through pipes.
(2)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for empowering any officer authorised by the relevant authority—
(a)to enter any premises in which there is a service pipe connected with a gas main, for the purpose of inspecting any gas fitting on the premises, any flue or means of ventilation used in connection with any such gas fitting, or any service pipe or other apparatus (not being a gas fitting) which is on the premises and is used for the supply of gas or is connected with a gas main;
(b)where he so enters any such premises, to examine or apply any test to any such object as is mentioned in paragraph (a) above and (where the object is a gas fitting) to verify what supply of air is available for it; and
(c)where in his opinion it is necessary to do so for the purpose of averting danger to life or property, and notwithstanding any contract previously existing, to disconnect and seal off any gas fitting or any part of the gas supply system on the premises, or cut off the supply of gas to the premises or, if no such supply is being given, to signify the refusal of the relevant authority to give or, as the case may be, allow such a supply.
(3)Where any regulations under subsection (2) above confer any power in accordance with paragraph (c) of that subsection, the regulations shall also include provision—
(a)for securing that, where any such power is exercised, the consumer will be notified as to the nature of the defect or other circumstances in consequence of which it has been exercised;
(b)for enabling any consumer so notified to appeal to the Secretary of State on the grounds that the defect or other circumstances in question did not constitute a danger such as to justify the action taken in the exercise of the power, or did not exist or have ceased to exist; and
(c)for enabling the Secretary of State to give such directions as may in accordance with the regulations be determined by him to be appropriate in consequence of any such appeal.
(4)Regulations made under subsection (2) above may make provision for prohibiting any person, except with the consent of the relevant authority or in pursuance of any directions given by the Secretary of State as mentioned in subsection (3)(c) above, from—
(a)reconnecting any gas fitting or part of any gas supply system which has been disconnected by or on behalf of the relevant authority in exercise of a power conferred by the regulations; or
(b)restoring the supply of gas to any premises where it has been cut off by or on behalf of the relevant authority in the exercise of any such power; or
(c)causing gas from a gas main to be supplied to any premises where in pursuance of the regulations the refusal of the relevant authority to give or, as the case may be, allow a supply to those premises has been signified and that refusal has not been withdrawn.
(5)Where in pursuance of any powers conferred by regulations made under subsection (2) above, entry is made on any premises by an officer authorised by the relevant authority—
(a)the officer shall ensure that the premises are left no less secure by reason of the entry; and
(b)the relevant authority shall make good, or pay compensation for, any damage caused by the officer, or by any person accompanying him in entering the premises, in taking any action therein authorised by the regulations, or in making the premises secure.
(6)Any officer exercising powers of entry conferred by regulations made under subsection (2) above may be accompanied by such persons as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose for which entry is made, or for the purposes of subsection (5) above.
(7)If any person intentionally obstructs any officer exercising powers of entry conferred by regulations made under subsection (2) above, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(8)The M2Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 (entry under a justice’s warrant) shall apply in relation to any powers of entry conferred by regulations made under subsection (2) above as if—
(a)any reference to a public gas supplier were a reference to the relevant authority; and
(b)any reference to an employee of a public gas supplier were a reference to an officer authorised by the relevant authority.
(9)In this section “the relevant authority”—
(a)in relation to dangers arising from the supply of gas by a public gas supplier, or from the use of gas supplied by such a supplier, means that supplier; and
(b)in relation to dangers arising from the supply of gas by a person other than a public gas supplier, or from the use of gas supplied by such a person, means the Secretary of State.