Tesco fall foul of Fire Safety law

Tesco pays 119,000 pounds for fire safety law breaches

Tesco have been fined in total £119,000 for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform Order – 21 April 21 2010

The fines were as follows:

Tesco pleaded guilty to failing to keep emergency exits clear (£20,000 fine); failing to keep an emergency route clear (£20,000); two counts of fire doors being wedged open (£20,000 each) and storing flammable materials under an emergency stairwell (£15,000). Sentencing took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 April 2010.

The incident follow a fire within the store that was extinguished by staff using a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket. We presumed the fire detection with the building activated the fire alarm, which in turn called the fire brigade.  A subsequently a visit was made to the store the following day to inspect the fire safety requirements and fire risk assessment of the premises and the breaches as mentioned above were discovered.

This event highlights what can occur if the responsible person’s in charge of the premises fail to ensure their fire safety responsibility is carried out.

As we can see in the incident above, the fire alarm system may have played an important role detecting the fire and calling the brigade. This is why fire alarm testing is important, along with the fire alarm maintenance of the system.

As you can see a fire risk assessment was untaken, but it was not reviewed.

A fire alarm company such as Fire Systems Ltd is a specialist in fire protection, and a independent fire alarm installer. Their are also specialist if wireless fire alarm and fire alarm maintenance.