Prosecutions

In what is the largest penalty under the legislation to date, an international oil company has been fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £45,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order at its UK headquarters in central London.

The London Fire Brigade prosecuted the company following two small fires in the space of three weeks at the company’s premises on London’s South Bank. A subsequent inspection in January 2007 found extensive breaches including blocked escape routes and fire exits, defective fire doors and excessive fire loading. The fire loading had been dramatically increased because of refurbishments taking place in the upper floors.

During the inspection it was discovered that the company’s fire risk assessment had not been reviewed or updated since 2003.

A prohibition notice was served which restricted the use of the upper floors and basement levels. Under the notice, only people working to remedy the fire safety deficiencies were allowed to enter those parts of the building. A further inspection was carried out on 15 January 2007 – all the fire safety failings were remedied and the prohibition notice was lifted.