£20,000 Fine For The 'Responsible Person'
The prosecution came after numerous inspections at 23 Streatham Common North Side, London, a property Mohammed Khan has managed since 1997. Fire safety inspectors found that that there were no fire safety procedures in place and no way of informing tenants about fire safety arrangements. Storage was also found to be blocking the escape route, whilst smoke alarms had either been removed or had low batteries inside them. This was all in addition to there being no fire risk assessment for the premises.
After the initial inspection on 17 April 2007, fire safety inspectors served an enforcement notice, highlighting the work that needed to be carried out. However, upon their return on 3 October 2007, it was discovered that the notice had been ignored.
The sentencing took place at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday 23 November 2009, where the judge viewed this as an extremely serious case. Mr Khan had ignored his duties as 'the responsible person'.
Assistant commissioner for Fire Safety Regulation Steve Turek said: "Housing providers like the 'Responsible Person' in this case have to carry out a fire risk assessment and even more importantly, act upon its findings. Landlords have to know their responsibilities to protect and inform their residents if a fire breaks out".
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, places a duty on a defined 'responsible person' to be accountable for all 'general fire precautions'. The 'Responsible Person' means the employer for many organisations. It could also mean the occupier of the premises where a business or organisation is run. Finally it can be the owner, where the person may not have any control, or interest in the person of a trade, business or undertaking. Any assessment and fire precautions must be kept under review by the 'responsible person'.
For further information, please visit www.london-fire.gov.uk
Are you the responsible person? Solutions Fire Safety can help you understand your role and responsibilities. Visit our events page for more information on the Solutions Fire Safety responsible person training course.
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