Latest News

Restaurant owner fined for offences

Posted: 19/04/2013 13:24

The breach of a prohibition notice has resulted in a restaurant owner being fined £3,235.00

Following a visit by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to the Siam Thai Lounge in Lyndhurst in July 2012 a prohibition notice was served on the owner Mr Aminur Chowdhurry to prevent him using the second floor of the building, having found poor fire safety measures with the potential to cause death or serious injury.

However a week later on a return visit the fire officer found a member of staff using the second floor as a rest area.

Mr Chowdhurry was fined £1,400 and ordered to pay costs of £1,820 as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

It could be YOU

Posted: 19/04/2013 12:59

Mobility impairment - temporary or permanent
Loss of hearing or sight
Learning disabilities
Heart, breathing or other medical condition
Advanced state of pregnancy

There must be arrangements in place for the safety of anyone with a disability or other individual need, either working in or resorting to your place of work.

This will include people with a range of requirements, and not only those who might be considered 'disabled'. Wheelchair users and others with walking difficulties; anyone with a visual or hearing impairment, learning disability, heart or breathing problem; or someone with a temporary condition such as a sprained ankle or advanced state of pregnancy, may need assistance to leave the building.

Whatever the arrangements, make sure that they are understood by the people who will be affected by them, and practised as part of the regular fire drills carried...

Landlord receives a fine of £22,000 for 26 housing breaches

Posted: 19/03/2013 14:53

Under the Regulatory Reform (fire Safety) Order 2005 a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment must be carried out on all communal areas in residential flats in England and Wales to reduce or remove the risk of a fire starting.

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) landlord has been fined almost £22,000 after being found guilty of 26 breaches of housing regulations in numerous properties.

Mr Paul Allen was ordered to pay a total of £21,895 by Hertford Magistrates Court after legal action was taken by East Herts Council.

The Authority was initially alerted to the poor state of the properties by the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service in 2009, when an inspection found a lack of fire alarms at the premises.

Sufficient fire safety measures are legally required in Houses of Multiple Occupation in order to safeguard the welfare of tenants.

People with Individual Needs

Posted: 19/03/2013 14:37

It could be YOU
Personal Emergency Egress Plans (PEEPs)
Refuges
Evacuation Lifts
Other Possibilities

There has been for some years a growing trend, supported by powerful and far-reaching legislation, to ensure people with disabilities have full access to places of work, shops, educational and other public buildings. This clearly implies a requirement to include the same people in any planning for escape from fire. Their needs should be reflected in the findings of any Fire Risk Assessment, in the fire precautions installed and the fire and evacuation procedures adopted.

It is important that Fire Wardens (or others with specific responsibilities relating to fire) know about people in their area who may need help in the event of an evacuation, and that this information is passed to the relevant management or security staff who can make special arrangements if necessary.

People...

Signage (ii)

Posted: 18/02/2013 11:12

'Fire Action Notice'
'Fire Point'
'Hose Reel'
'Fire Alarm Call Point'
'Fire Assembly Point'
'Disabled Refuge'

Escape routes should not incorporate any obstacle to their use, so instruction signs such as 'Push to Open', 'Break Glass to Open' or 'Press Switch to Open' must be provided where necessary.

Some signage is only required where the layout of the premises makes identification difficult; signs indicating the position of call points, extinguishers (often combined to make a 'Fire Point') are examples of this. Signs describing the type and correct use of extinguishers at a particular location are not obligatory, though many employees find these a useful and reassuring 'aide-memoire'.

However it is advisable to signpost assembly points (as well as describing them in the Fire Action Notice) and disabled refuge areas.

This list is by...

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