Business owners are being advised by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to pay greater attention to fire safety legislation, following the prosecution of a Nottingham fast food retailer at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today (Monday 4 November).
LFF Limited faced a total financial penalty of £14,979.50, including a victim surcharge and full costs, after pleading guilty to six fire safety offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Fines imposed on LFF Limited included £2,667 for failing to have installed a fire detection and warning system and £2,000 for failing to ensure that escape routes from upper floors were adequately protected from smoke and fire. All of the sentences took account of the one third discount to which the company was entitled following early guilty pleas.
The magistrates emphasised that safety must always take priority over financial considerations.
Fire protection officers from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service visited the Maryland Chicken outlet, Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham in October last year and found that the fire precautions that should have been provided in the event of a fire were inadequate. This presented a serious risk to the lives of staff at the premises. Enforcement and Prohibition Notices were issued, which limited the use of the premises and required fire safety improvements.
The offences in full, on or before 8 October 2012, were as follows . . . .
1. Failure to create a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment – fine of £1,334
2. Failure to install a fire detection and warning system – fine of £2,667
3. Failure to keep emergency escape routes free from obstruction – fine of £1,667
4. Failure to ensure that emergency escape routes led to a place of safety – fine of £1,334
5. Failure to ensure that emergency escape routes were sufficiently protected from smoke or fire – fine of £2,000
6. Failure to install appropriate emergency lighting on escape routes – fine of £1,667
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding all owners and occupiers of buildings of their legal responsibility to protect their customers and staff against the risk of fire and warning them that, where necessary, action will be taken against anyone found to be in breach of fire safety regulations.
Vic McMillen, Fire Protection Group Manager, said: “We are here to provide advice and support to local businesses and are always willing to help to make sure they comply with the fire safety legislation. However, the public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety very seriously and will use legal sanctions where necessary.”