IFEDA press release: jailing of fire risk assessor

Don’t risk your business reputation

The recent prosecution of a Fire Risk Assessor, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, acts as a stark warning for those businesses not complying with fire regulations, and particularly for those companies offering fire risk assessments as part of their business operations.

IFEDA, The Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association, continues to champion for 3rd party accreditation for this important aspect of fire safety. Clear precise guidelines allowing fire risk assessors to demonstrate their expertise, experience and competence would undoubtedly offer consistency and re-assurance throughout the fire safety industry.

Colin Payne, Chairman of IFEDA says “It is a sobering thought for anyone who undertakes fire risk assessments that the outcome could result in a criminal record. IFEDA is committed to raising standards within the fire industry and we continue to push for 3rd party accreditation; this unfortunate incident proves that such 3rd party accreditation can’t come quickly enough.”

A comprehensive written fire risk assessment enables businesses to act upon any shortfalls, and crucially provides written documentation that this essential part of fire safety planning has been undertaken. Payne continues “Any fire protection company who undertakes fire risk assessment, or uses a sub-contractor to do so, must look at the competency of the individuals providing them.”

IFEDA, as an independent trade association, promotes quality standards and procedures within the fire safety industry.

Further details can be found at www.ifeda.org or by emailing info@ifeda.org.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:
IFEDA (the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association) was formed in 1989 with the key aim of promoting professionalism and quality standards within the fire safety industry.

IFEDA run fire training courses and provide support on fire safety issues, in addition to publishing the quarterly newsletter, Fire Talk, which keeps members up-to-date with relevant legislation changes, and recent prosecutions.

In May 2011 the IFEDA Dry riser course was ‘highly commended’ in the Best Training Initiative category of the Fire Excellence Awards 2011.

Further details can be found at: www.ifeda.org.

For media information, images and interviews contact:

Kay Pendell-Smith
ps marketing

Tel: 01296 394729

First fire risk assessor jailed for breaches of the FSO.

A fire risk assessor and a hotel manager have been jailed for eight months for breaches of the FSO.
David Liu, who runs The Dial Hotel and Market Inn, both in Mansfield, had previously pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to 15 offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, while John O’Rourke of Mansfield Fire Protection Services pleaded guilty to two offences under the legislation. The Judge said that the time had come to send out a message to those who conduct fire risk assessments, and to hoteliers who are prepared to put profit before safety.
Officers from Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service visited both hotels as part of a routine inspection. They found that both premises were being used to provide sleeping accommodation on the upper floors and that fire precautions, which should have been provided to safeguard the occupants in the event of a fire, were inadequate.
Due to the serious risk to life, they issued prohibition notices preventing any further use of both premises for sleeping accommodation until suitable improvements had been made.
Mr O’Rourke was prosecuted because he had prepared fire risk assessments for both premises. However, the prosecution stated, that the fire risk assessments failed to identify a number of significant deficiencies which would have placed the occupants at serious risk in the event of a fire.
The offences (common to both hotels) which Mr Liu, as the responsible person, pleaded guilty to were:
a. A lack of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
b. A failure to ensure effective means of escape with doors leading onto corridors not being fire resisting or having self-closers fitted
c. A failure to ensure that emergency routes and exits were provided with emergency lighting
d. A failure to ensure the premises were equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment, detectors and alarms in that there was no fire detection within the bedrooms
e. A failure to ensure that equipment and devices provided were subject to a suitable system of maintenance in that the fire alarm system, emergency lighting system and firefighting equipment were not tested.
In addition at the Dial Hotel, officers found both staircases from upper levels terminating in the same ground floor area with no alternative escape routes or separation, a locked fire exit door, and exit routes obstructed by combustible materials.
The other offence at the Market Inn related to a missing fire door and a window not being fire resisting.
As well as jailing Mr. Liu he was also ordered to pay costs of £15,000.
John O’Rourke, as a person other than the responsible person who had some control of the premises, pleaded guilty to two counts (one for each hotel) of failing to provide a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. He was also ordered to pay costs of £5,860.