Unlicensed handyman KILLS 4 month old girl. - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

22rifle · 06-28-2008, 12:02 PM

OK, so he didn't do it on purpose but it would not be a huge stretch to string him up for involuntary manslaughter.

Quote:

Fire investigators Friday blamed a fatal house explosion in north Charlotte on an improperly removed heater that left a gas pipe uncapped.

When an uncertified handyman turned the gas back on last week to ignite a water heater, fire officials said gas seeped from the uncapped pipe for almost two hours before the house blew up.

Four-month-old Synora Coleman was killed in the explosion June 19. Firefighters found her body in the rubble a few minutes after they arrived. Her mother, Courtney Chambers was taken to Carolinas Medical Center and released earlier this week. Synora's father, Sylmyles Coleman, had burns on a third of his body and is still at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, which has a burn unit.

Quote:

A handyman removed the gas heater from the hallway, but firefighters said he didn't cap the pipe to prevent gas from flowing out of it in the future. The gas was turned off at the time.

Synora's family moved into the house in June. On June 19, Chambers talked with the landlord about a leaky toilet at the one-story house. She also told the landlord she had put a deposit down for gas, but the family didn't have hot water.

Around 6 p.m., a second handyman came to the house. He turned the gas on, lit the water heater's pilot light and fixed the toilet. He then checked to make sure warm water was flowing to the bathroom sink. In all, the handyman was in the house for less than half an hour.

http://www.charlotte.com/171/story/690196.html

And that my friends, is why some of us say, "Hire a professional plumber" even when the law doesn't require it.

Dave R · 06-28-2008, 12:55 PM

I've never understood why anyone who is not licensed and fully trained would attempt to work on anything connected to gas. In this case, it was two different handymen. One showed up in March to remove a gas heater at the landloard's request. Three months later, another one was called to turn on the gas, not knowing about the first Handyman or the heater removal. The explosion completly leveled the house and could be heard for miles around. It was all over the news here for days.

Ron The Plumber · 06-28-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22rifle

OK, so he didn't do it on purpose but it would not be a huge stretch to string him up for involuntary manslaughter.

http://www.charlotte.com/171/story/690196.html

And that my friends, is why some of us say, "Hire a professional plumber" even when the law doesn't require it.

GC's don't listen, it's a uphill battle, they insist they can do this without being licensed, will this article shed light to those on here who break the laws of contracting.

skyhook · 06-28-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron The Plumber

GC's don't listen, it's a uphill battle, they insist they can do this without being licensed, will this article shed light to those on here who break the laws of contracting.

How did GCs get into this. More like an unlicensed plumber. Oh I forget GCs and handyman are the same to you.

22rifle · 06-28-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyhook

How did GCs get into this. More like an unlicensed plumber. Oh I forget GCs and handyman are the same to you.

When a GC starts to mess with gas or plumbing without the proper training, licensing, or certification, he is acting in the capacity of a handyman.

Stick to what you are trained, licensed, or certified to do and you are a GC. You may still be the spawn of the devil like many GC's are, but at least you won't be dabbling in handyman territory.

Bill · 06-28-2008, 02:03 PM

My thoughts are this. Quite simply he said he would preform said work for fixed price. Therefore he broke the law by contracting without a contracting license. he had the option of telling the HO he was not qualified to do said job. I think they ought to run him through the mill. Anyone who wants to contract a job should get a contractors license. Just like us. Simple.

skyhook · 06-28-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22rifle

When a GC starts to mess with gas or plumbing without the proper training, licensing, or certification, he is acting in the capacity of a handyman.

Stick to what you are trained, licensed, or certified to do and you are a GC. You may still be the spawn of the devil like many GC's are, but at least you won't be dabbling in handyman territory.

It doesn't take a genius to thread a cap on. A handyman designation is too good for the first hack.

Ron The Plumber · 06-28-2008, 02:16 PM

What does it take?

silvertree · 06-28-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron The Plumber

What does it take?

It takes an act of God, or 1 licensed plumber.

bigdav160 · 06-28-2008, 02:47 PM

Does it really take training and a "license" to cap a gas line?

The problem here is the guy wasn't a "handyman".

He was a freakin idiot!

22rifle · 06-28-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdav160

Does it really take training and a "license" to cap a gas line?

No. But that training and license drastically increases the chance that the guy you hired KNOWS he has to cap that gas line.

See, it's not about the act of capping the gas line at all. It's about knowing you have to.

No training or license required for that. But like I said, that training and license drastically increases the chance that the guy you hired KNOWS he has to cap that gas line.

Bill · 06-28-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdav160

Does it really take training and a "license" to cap a gas line?

The problem here is the guy wasn't a "handyman".

He was a freakin idiot!

Thats what I am talking about

Dave R · 06-28-2008, 04:03 PM

It was reportrd that the local DA's office is looking into pressing charges. It will be intresting to see if it's against the first or second handyman, or both. Or maybe even the landlord who probably hired the cheapest guy he could find and didn't care if he hired an idiot.

MALCO.New.York · 06-28-2008, 05:49 PM

It is ultimately the Landlords fault.

And did we not just have a MAJOR Gas Explosion at a UNION construction sight. An explosion due to HUMAN ERROR. So much for the license and experience there!

silvertree · 06-28-2008, 06:10 PM

I say go after the 2 handymen, and they were not handy men. And especially go after the landlord.

Grumpyplumber · 06-28-2008, 08:22 PM

You can't just consider the fact that this idiot did something stupid by not putting a cap on.
I have seen some VERY scary things happen on gas, fittings come lose or break from working on another portion of pipe & then leak slowly after the fact...so no...it doesn't take a genius, but it sure takes a complete idiot to think he's ok as long as he "knows what he's doing" without the license and necessary insurance.

Plumb Crazy · 06-28-2008, 11:27 PM

What a tragedy. If it would've happened in my state the D.A. would'nt be LOOKING INTO ANYTHING. It is a first degree misdameanor for the first offense of Contracting Without a License, third degree felony the second. It is also a third degree felony first offense period for doing any type of gas work without a license and any death in the commision of a felony is FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

I hope the two hacks AND the propetry owner get what they have coming!!!

mdshunk · 06-28-2008, 11:39 PM

How could you be in a house for 1/2 hour, with a gas line leaking gas full-bore, and not smell gas?

Plumb Crazy · 06-29-2008, 12:03 AM

And for ALL of the unlicensed naysayers who try to selectively use clever little euphemisms such as "handyman", "remodeler" etc and make sarcastic responses to the licensed people's objections to those who do unlicensed/ ILLEGAL work ... If you're doing unlicensed work that falls within the legal scope of a licensed trade I HOPE YOU ALL GET CAUGHT AND PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST.

I should'nt lower myself to debate right from wrong as a matter of opinion when the LAW does it for me in no uncertain terms. A crime is a crime is a CRIME. However:

No it doesnt take a rocket scientist to cap a line.But, if you had a license you would know the proper procedure to abandon and terminate a branch as outlined in the code books.

These laws are made (MOST OF THEM BY TRADESMAN AND LOBBIED INTO LAW) to protect the health and safety of the public first and foremost.

If you dont like it bring yourself up to the standards of a developed society by getting licensed in what you do or take your standards to a third world society where nobody will notice or care.

Plumb Crazy · 06-29-2008, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdav160

Does it really take training and a "license" to cap a gas line?

The problem here is the guy wasn't a "handyman".

He was a freakin idiot!

If you want it done legally in my state it does. Dont know if he was a "handyman" but I do know he was

1) A MURDERER

2) A CRIMINAL for doing unlicensed work

3) Yes an IDIOT and probably called himself a "handyman" or "remodeler" and was elusive and did things like not give any real title or information like where he was from, company name (if he even had one) and probably tried to JUSTIFY what he did or MINIMIZE the fact that he didnt have a license if the subject ever came up. Obviously didnt know jack about Plumbing or Fuelgas Code and probably was proud of his self designation of "handyman" which in his mind made him an expert in all trades. Because in his world "handymen" didnt needthings like training or licenses. They have the right to do anything because they used to work for a company who did or did it with their uncle jim bob or jose or watched an episode of handy manny or this old house.

RING ANY BELLS OUT THERE PEOPLE ???