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| Fire officers found a number of fire safety failings during inspection |
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order places a duty on the 'responsible person' for the premises to carry out a fire risk assessment.
A brewery has been ordered to pay £27,481 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation following a prosecution brought by the London Fire Brigade. Punch Taverns PLC admitted guilt on seven contraventions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Sentencing occurred on Thursday 6 January 2011 at Thames Magistrates Court.
The Milestone Public House on Mile End Road, E3 4PH was inspected by fire officers on 7 July 2008. The officers found a number of fire safety failings in both the Public House and the first floor, which was being used as a house of multiple occupation, including inadequate maintenance of the fire alarm and emergency lighting. An enforcement notice was issued and time was given for them to comply.
Officers returned on the 14 November 2008 and found a number of faults still hadn't been fixed. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order places a duty on the 'responsible person' for the premises (the person who controls the premises e.g. a owner /landlord/employer) to carry out a fire risk assessment, take appropriate measures to minimise the risk of fire and implement general fire precautions to protect people in the premises if a fire occurs. The assessment and the fire precautions must be kept under review by the 'responsible person'.
Assistant Commissioner for fire safety regulation Steve Turek said: "London Fire Brigade will continue to take action when businesses, large or small, do not take their fire safety responsibilities seriously. Failure to comply with the law can, as this case has shown, result in a prosecution."
