A Pub To Die For? Why Your Customers Need a Fire Risk Assessment.

Landlord fined by court after breaching fire safety rules
30/ 6/2008
A pub landlord has been fined after a court found he had seriously breached fire safety.
Paul Dailey, who is the manager of the George and Dragon pub in Swallowfield, which is owned by Punch Pubs, was convicted at Reading Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.
He pleaded guilty to 10 charges of failing to meet legal standards for fire safety and was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £3,984 costs.
The serious breaches of fire safety precautions included no fire risk assessment having been carried out, no fire protection provided for fire escape routes, no fire alarm system, obstructed fire escape routes, no staff fire drill training and emergency lighting systems did not work.
The court was told the breaches constituted a serious and life-threatening risk both to staff and the public visiting the pub.
The pub was prosecuted under the Regularity Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which was introduced in October 2006.
During the hearing on Thursday, June 19, the court found the seriousness of the case was down to a failure on Mr Dailey’s part to comply with fire regulations and a failure to address substandard fire safety provisions.
David Walden, fire safety technical support officer at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), said: “We are very pleased that the courts have acknowledged the serious nature of this case.
“Although fire and rescue services are no longer required to issue fire safety certificates, we carry out a rigorous inspection programme of commercial premises to ensure they are meeting the standards required by the order.
“RBFRS 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 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order are properly discharged.”
Mr Dailey was unavailable for comment.