Premier have been chosen for a major contract in Bahrain

Premier Fire and Safety Training are proud to reveal that they have been chosen to assist Bahrain International Airport to close out a major reports findings and to assist and provide on job training for the fire service, this will include reviewing their existing training programme and delivering and producing a training programme so the fire service can develop and maintain high standards of performance.

Suspended prison sentence for building owner’s fire safety breaches

A London building owner has been given a six month suspended prison sentence after being convicted of seven offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Saif Ahmed was sentenced on 14 September after being found guilty of four offences at a trial at Tower Bridge magistrates’ court on 1 June 2011. Mr Ahmed had already admitted three other offences at an earlier hearing.

He was also sentenced to 150 hours of community service and told to pay over £13,000 in costs.

Fire safety officers visited his property in Camberwell Church Street on 9 December 2009. The basement and ground floors of the building are used as a takeaway restaurant, while the first, second and third floors were being used as sleeping accommodation with five bedrooms.

Officers found a range of fire safety breaches on the upper floors of the building. These included having no fire alarm or emergency lighting; the bedroom doors were not fire resistant or self closing; the staircase from the ground to second floor was not fire protected; and there was no alternative means of escape from the sleeping accommodation.

The inspectors also found no evidence of an emergency plan and that no fire risk assessment had been carried out.

“It is essential that building owners understand their responsibilities under fire safety law,” said assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, Steve Turek.

“London Fire Brigade works hard to ensure individuals and companies understand their responsibilities under fire safety law and only use prosecution as a last resort, but this verdict sends out a clear message that if they ignore fire safety then they will face serious penalties.”

Landlords told to ‘get houses in order’ after prosecutions 19 September 2011

A local council has warned landlords that they face the full force of the law if their housing is not in a safe condition.

Bath and North East Somerset Council issued the warning following the success of two recent prosecutions – one of which related to fire safety.

Richard Seccombe was fined £700 and ordered to pay £100 costs by Bath magistrates on 19 July for breaches in fire safety requirements under section 30 of the Housing Act 2004. Breaches at the property in Wells Road, Bath, included a lack of an alarm system and no fire door to the kitchen.

Another landlord was convicted of other, non-fire safety breaches under the same legislation.

“We have worked with both landlords over a long period of time to get their properties compliant with nationally recognised standards,” said Graham Sabourn, council associate director for housing.

“Unfortunately, they have failed to comply and following this successful prosecution [have been] hit hard in their wallets. Inaction on the part of landlords could lead to something much worse – putting the lives of tenants in danger.”

Nightclub bosses fined for fire safety breaches 23 September 2011

Two nightclub bosses have been fined after breaching fire safety legislation.

Kevin Clarke and Stephen Bailey both appeared before Bury magistrates on 7 September to face charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 relating to Coco Lounge, Temptations and Cooler Bar, in the town.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service took legal action following an inspection of the three premises.

Mr Clarke was fined £2,700 plus £1,906 court costs after pleading guilty to seven offences, including not having a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and failing to provide adequate fire safety training for employees.

Mr Bailey was fined £550 plus £100 court costs after admitting three offences relating to a lack of suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments.

Peter O’Reilly, director of prevention and protection at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We always support businesses that work to make their premises safe for people to use. However we will take action against those businesses that neglect fire safety and in doing so put the lives of staff and public at risk.

“We hope this court case sends a clear message that fire safety must be taken seriously.”

Why it pays to choose Premier Fire and Safety Training

There is a saying you get what you pay for and this is so true when it comes to fire safety. At Premier Fire and Safety Training we pride ourselves on delivering a robust professional service from the Fire Risk Assessment to Staff Training to policy and procedures. So why would you take a chance and put you business at risk, please read on.

A hotel owner from Nottingham and the man responsible for carrying out a fire risk assessment of his properties have pleaded guilty to breaches of fire safety regulations in what is believed to be the first instance of a fire risk assessor being prosecuted.

David Lui, operator of The Dial Hotel and The Market Inn in Mansfield, and fire assessor John O’Rourke both admitted to seriously contravening the Fire Safety Order 2005 regulatory reform at Nottingham’s Crown Court in May. They are due to be sentenced today (July 8th).

Routine inspections by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) revealed that fire precautions were inadequate at both of Mr Lui’s properties.

Despite fire risk assessments being carried out by Mr O’Rourke, a number of serious deficiencies had been overlooked, which would have left occupants seriously at risk had a fire broken out.

“Due to the serious risk to life that was being presented to occupants, [NFRS] issued prohibition notices preventing any further use of both premises for sleeping accommodation until suitable improvements had been made,” the fire authority said.

Earlier this year, the owner of a house of multiple occupancy in Wirral was fined £158,000 for breaches of fire safety regulations, including having doors that were not properly resistant to fire and had no self-closing mechanism.

Don’t take a chance with your business call Premier Fire and Safety Training and get the fire safety package your business deserves.