66Gas safety officers may enter land for certain purposes related to gas infrastructure

66 Gas safety officers may enter land for certain purposes related to gas infrastructure

(1)  A gas safety officer for a licensee may, at any reasonable time –

(a) enter and remain in a place to carry out preliminary investigations in connection with the installation of gas infrastructure; or

(b) enter and remain in a place where the gas infrastructure of the licensee is situated to carry out operational work or protective work on the infrastructure.

(2)  If a gas safety officer for a licensee seeks to enter a place under this section and entry is refused or obstructed, the licensee may in instances other than protective work, by written notice to the occupier of the place, ask for consent to entry by a gas safety officer.

(3)  The notice of entry under subsection (2) must state the reason for, and the date and time of, the proposed entry.

(4)  The period of notice of entry under subsection (2) must be reasonable.

(5)  If entry is refused, or obstructed, after a notice is given under subsection (2) , the licensee may obtain a warrant under section 106 to enter the place.

(6)  In an emergency or need for protective work, a gas safety officer may exercise a power of entry under this section –

(a) at any time and without prior notice if it is not practicable to give such notice; and

(b) to make safe, if it is possible to do so, or disconnect the gas supply to the place without entering the place; and

(c) if necessary in the circumstances, by the use of reasonable force.

(7)  When a gas safety officer enters on land under this section, the gas safety officer –

(a) may be accompanied by such assistants as the gas safety officer considers necessary or appropriate; and

(b) may take any vehicles, machinery, or equipment that the gas safety officer considers necessary or appropriate for the work which the gas safety officer is to carry out in the place; and