Fire inspection leads to £7,500 fine - Ignorance is no excuse!

ATS Euromaster, in Southampton, has been fined £7,500 after pleading guilty to charges relating to inadequate fire safety standards under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Proceedings were brought following a visit to the Southampton premises by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services Fire Safety Officers, who found significant contraventions of fire safety measures within the building. These included:
Obstruction of a fire exit (£2,000 fine);
Failure to provide lighting in an escape route (£2,000 fine);
Insufficient fire safety training for the manager (£1,500 fine);
Failure to provide adequate means of giving warning in case of fire (£1,000 fine); and
Not having carried out a suitable fire risk assessment (£1,000 fine).
Speaking after the case, Assistant Chief Officer Steve Hamm, Head of Community Safety for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“We would like this case to act as a timely reminder to business owners and landlords that the Fire Safety Order is in place. The safety of the public is our primary concern.
The Service believes that this prosecution, together with the scale of the fine, gives a clear message to members of the business community of the need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with fire safety law.”
The company pleaded guilty to the five charges at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 2 November. Sentencing took place on Monday, 14 December before District Judge Callaway.
A spokesman for ATS Euromaster said:
“We have a strong health and safety record and are clearly disappointed with this isolated incident which occurred over two years ago. We treat matters such as this very seriously and took immediate steps to address the issues raised.”