£13,000 fine for fire safety breaches
The owner of a property in London, has been ordered to serve 150 hours community service and to pay £13,000 in court costs after being found guilty of a string of offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Mr Saif Ahmed appeared at Tower Bridge magistrates’ court after fire safety officers inspected his property in Camberwell 2009.
Steve Turek, Assistant commissioner said: “It is essential that building owners understand their responsibilities under fire safety law. London Fire Brigade works hard to ensure individuals and companies understand their responsibilities under fire safety law and only uses prosecution as a last resort but this verdict sends out a clear message that if they ignore fire safety then they will face serious penalties.”
Mr Ahmed was found guilty of 7 safety breaches including insufficient fire alarms, emergency lighting and escape routes.
Construction site goes up in flames
A fire broke out at a Salford construction site at around 1.30am on 4th August.
50 firefighters from the Greater Manchester area attended the scene on Ordsall’s Phoebe Street and used water jets, ground monitors and hydraulic platform vehicles to tackle the fire.
Over 30 neighbouring properties were evacuated.
The site was being used to build 79 new apartments and a Morrisons supermarket. It is thought that only the apartment side of the site was damaged in the fire.
It is not known what caused the fire but an investigation will now be carried out.
Footage of the blaze can be seen here.
Construction sites are dangerous places for numerous reasons. There are many portable electrical tools, oxy acetylene cylinders, combustible materials and numerous other types of equipment.
The fire risks associated with construction sites pose a significantly higher risk than normal office premises. In view of this, the Fire Training Academy has developed a course which specifically designed for Construction Sites.
The course is designed for relevant personnel to manage fire safety on construction sites in line with the ‘Joint Code of Practice’ Fire Prevention on Construction Sites.
The course includes the following:
- Application and scope of Fire Safety Legislation
- Fire Prevention on Construction Sites
- General Fire Precautions
- Human Behaviour in Fire and Smoke
- Fire Safety Duties
- Management of Fire Safety
- Site Fire Safety Co-ordinator
- Fire Safety Plan
- Emergency Procedures
- Managing Life Safety Systems
- Fire Hazards on Construction Sites
- Practical Exercises
- Practical Fire Extinguisher Training
Get in touch if you would like further information on this course.
Prison sentence and fines for hotel manager and fire risk assessor
The manager of two hotels in Mansfield has been found guilty of serious fire breaches.
David Liu who is the manager of The Dial Hotel and The Market Inn pleaded guilty to 15 fire safety offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
John O’Rourke, an independent fire risk assessor who was responsible for carrying out the fire risk assessments at the hotels also pleaded guilty to 2 offences.
Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service discovered the breaches whilst on a routine inspection. It was found that the hotels did not have smoke alarms in bedrooms, no adequate means of escape, no emergency lighting and insufficient firefighting equipment.
A prohibition order was issued to the owners stating that the hotel should not be used until the fire safety standards complied with current required standards.
Mr O’Rourke and Mr Liu were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday 8th July. Mr O’Rourke was ordered to pay £5,860 and Mr Liu £15,000 in costs. Each will serve 8 months in prison.
On site Fire Warden Training
The course was informative and relevant to the work we do. The information given made me realise that I can be safer, especially at home. Very useful and interesting – Colin Gregory.
Very good information that applies both to work and to home – Stewart McKenzie
Very professional. I’m very happy with what I’ve been told today – S. Hewett
I learnt new information that I can apply in work and in my home environment – Stuart Young
Valuable info for work and to take home – A. Visco
The tips for fire safety in the home were extremely useful – Jason Plant
Devon landlord fined £158,000 for safety breaches
Joseph Ernest Draper was fined at Exeter Crown Court after pleading guilty to four offences under the Fire Safety Order 2005.
The court case follows a fire at Mr Drapers Ilfracombe property which resulted in some of the 13 tenants having to escape from the burning building by climbing on to the roof.
After the fire, Devon and Somerset fire investigators carrying out a safety audit discovered that doors were not constructed to resist fire and some did not have self closing devices fitted.
Nick manning from Devon and Somerset fire service said: “Landlords and owners of properties used as flats should take notice of the outcome of this case – it has sent a clear message with the level of the fine awarded.”