Griffin Fire: Your Central London Fire Safety Specialists

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has welcomed the publications of new guidelines relating to the sentencing of organisations under a charge of Corporate Manslaughter.

The new guidelines, published on 9 February 2010, are long awaited and are designed to assist courts in dealing with those that cause death through a gross breach of care or where a health and safety offence is a significant cause of death. Graham Ellicott, CEO of the FIA, commented – “Since the introduction of the Fire Safety Order we have been calling for it to be effectively and rigorously enforced, and for those that breach the … Continue Reading

Two firefighters have been killed while tackling a fire at a high-rise block of flats in Southampton. The fire broke out at the 15-storey Shirley Towers in Church Street shortly after 20:00 BST on Tuesday 7 April 2010

Chief fire officer John Bonney said the death of the two firefighters had left “a devastating hole” in the service.

An investigation into the fire, which was thought to have started on the seventh floor of the building, is being carried out by police and fire officers.

Residents were evacuated from the building, one of Southampton’s tallest, and were provided with emergency accommodation by the … Continue Reading

Supermarket giant Tesco has been fined £95,000 and ordered to pay over £24,000 in costs after pleading guilty to five breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO)

London Fire Brigade, prosecuting, said firefighters were called to a fire at Tesco’s Colney Hatch store in Barnet. When they arrived found the premises locked but managed to gain access after attracting the attention of an employee who was restocking shelves. There had been a fire in the staff kitchen but it had been put out by staff using extinguishers and a fire blanket. There was still a significant amount of … Continue Reading

The Fire Safety (Employees’ Capabilities) (England) Regulations 2010, came into force on 6th April 2010. Essentially this will require employers to provide evidence of ‘competent’ training for fire related tasks. Griffin Fire Training now incorporates guidance on this employer responsibility

The relevant part of the Regulations is as follows:

1.(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Fire Safety (Employees’ Capabilities) (England) Regulations 2010 and shall come into force on 6th April 2010.

(2) These Regulations apply to England only.

Employer to take employees’ capabilities into consideration

2. Every employer must, in entrusting tasks to employees, take into account their capabilities as regards health and … Continue Reading

Prosecutions by the Fire Brigade continue to rise. Poor or non existent assessments and lack of training are a continuing problem. The LFB website states: ‘A risk assessment should be carried out by someone who has had sufficient training, and has good experience or knowledge of fire safety’

The Fire Brigade has never prosecuted a Griffin Fire customer. Fire risk assessments and training by Griffin Fire are professional and cost-effective.

Retailer, London. Fines £400,000 – Costs £136,052

New Look, the high street retailer, has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £136,052 after pleading guilty to two breaches … Continue Reading