When it is so much better to deal with fire safety failings before there is an actual fire
What happened?
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the site of a new nightclub under construction in a major city centre found large quantities of cardboard and other packaging discarded throughout the site.
When HSE inspectors visited the site, they found potentially flammable materials piled high to the ceiling in the basement, escape routes were not marked and in some cases were blocked entirely. The HSE inspectors were shocked at the scene that confronted them and, had a fire been ignited at the site, the risk to life would have been extremely serious.
The building’s fire alarm had been switched off and the fire extinguishers found on site had not been tested for seven years. HSE immediately issued two prohibition notices closing the site down until significant improvements were made.
There was a Chinese restaurant open to the public on the first floor and the neighbouring buildings were also occupied. Just one spark could have set light to any of the piles of cardboard, and then dozens of lives would have been put in danger.
It took a total of fourteen large skips and several people more than two days, working through the night, to clear the waste materials.
Legal Outcome
The two owners appeared at Magistrates’ Court to admit breaching three health and safety regulations each. One pleaded guilty to breaching Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and fined £6,000 with costs of £3,313. The other also pleaded guilty to breaching the regulations and fined £450 with costs of £2,710.
What can we learn from what happened?
Sadly, we can probably learn nothing new from this, except a recognition that ignorance of what is required as far as fire safety is concerned still exists, or, more disturbingly, the knowledge exists but no-one cares. Either way, it is good that the HSE are happy to carry out these investigations and take the necessary enforcement action.
Fires in such premises are common across the world when open and operating – typically when it is dark and nobody can find the fire exits or they are locked/blocked. At least here in the UK, the problem was dealt with proactively not reactively.
Source of Information
QLM Newsletter
The Business Desk