Pub landlord fined £4,000 under Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
01/07/2008
A pub landlord has been successfully prosecuted for ten separate breaches of fire safety legislation, which meant his pub had failed to meet the legal standards for fire safety. The charges were brought under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2006 (RRO) against Paul Dailey, the proprietor of the George and Dragon public house in Berkshire.
A routine inspection of the George and Dragon by Fire Safety Officers identified serious breaches to the fire safety precautions for the premises. These breaches included:
• No fire risk assessment was carried out for the premises.
• No fire protection was provided for fire escape routes.
• No fire alarm system was in place.
• Fire escape routes were obstructed.
• No fire drill training was given to members of staff.
• Emergency lighting systems did not work.
The court was informed that these breaches presented a serious and life-threatening risk, not only to the staff who worked there but also to the members of the public who visited the premises. In summing up, the Magistrates reinforced the seriousness of the case and attributed this to a clear failure on the part of Dailey to comply with the responsibilities imposed on him under the Order, and his failure to address inadequate fire safety provisions. Dailey was fined £4,000 plus £3,984 costs.
David Walden, Fire Safety Technical Support Officer, says: "We are very pleased that the courts have acknowledged the serious nature of this case. This prosecution was brought about under the RRO, which came into effect in October 2006. Although fire and rescue services are no longer required to issue fire safety certificates, we continue to carry out a rigorous inspection programme of commercial premises to ensure they are meeting the standards required by the Order.
"Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service strongly advises that anybody who employs staff or has responsibility and control of commercial premises must ensure that the responsibilities placed upon them by the RRO are properly discharged."
