Successful Prosecution Under Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997

08/08/2007

On The 8th August 2007, the Co-operative Group [CWS] Ltd appeared before Bracknell Magistrates Court for sentencing in regard to pleading guilty at a previous hearing on the 13th July 2007 to six charges under the Fire Precautions [Workplace] Regulations.

Five of the offences, related to contraventions found at the premises following a serious fire on the 14th October 2004.

A further offence was found during a fire safety inspection following a subsequent fire at the same premises on the 13th October 2005, all six offences fall under Regulation 3 of the regulations.

The offences relate to the company's failure to ensure that the premises were adequately provided with the appropriate fire safety measure;

• The premises contained some emergency lighting luminaries that were not functioning,
• A fire exit door was fitted with a door lock that required a code in order to open the door.
• A second fire exit door was fitted with a door lock that required a code in order to open the door.
• The premises were not provided with an appropriate fire alarm system.
• A final fire exit door was bolted shut by way of three sliding bolts fitted to the door.
• The fire alarm system was not being maintained.

The authority withdrew two other charges relating to additional offences.

The magistrates accepted that the company had examined their existing management procedures and that more stringent fire safety control measures had been put in place however; the magistrates stated that all the offences had placed persons at serious risk of injury or death.

The company was fined £5000.00 for each offence, a total of £30 000.00, costs were awarded in the authorities favour of £2765.00.