Fire safety – a hot topic for businesses
5/5/2010DWF warns businesses to be prepared for fire inspections
Leading law firm, DWF, is warning businesses to review their fire safety procedures to avoid getting their fingers burnt by surprise inspections.
DWF is urging employers to put fire safety high up on their list of priorities following the recent prosecution of the Co-operative Group.
The retailer was fined £210,000 after pleading guilty to six breaches of fire safety legislation at Southampton Crown Court.
This prosecution is one of a number of recent cases involving fire safety that have resulted in hefty fines being imposed.
Steffan Groch is head of the regulatory team at DWF, he said: "This recent case and increased enforcement activity have presented a stark reality of the threat from fire safety enforcement.
"Both senior figures in a business and its employees can be prosecuted for neglecting or failing to comply with their legal duties and, as we've seen, fines can be in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"Businesses can't afford to ignore the basics when putting together their risk assessments. They need to ensure that all staff are given adequate fire safety information at their induction and during periodic refreshers."
For further information about training and fire safety audits contact Steffan Groch on 0161 603 5008 or email steffan.groch@dwf.co.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors
DWF LLP is one of the fastest growing law firms in the UK. With over 1,100 people based in Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Preston, DWF provides a range of services grouped in the following sectors:
Corporate
Finance & Restructuring
Litigation
Real Estate
People
Insurance
Private Client
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Email: pdavies@bellpottingernorth.co.uk
