A director of Maureen O’Brien Ltd – the company which formerly owned the high street chain Joy – has been ordered to pay over £5,500 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to transgressions of fire safety legislation. Girish Chadha was fined £500 for 11 contraventions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
A fire safety inspection was carried out at Joy’s headquarters at 432 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton in 2007. The inspecting officer found a number of fire safety contraventions, including: no emergency procedures, excessive storage in the escape routes and no appropriate fire safety training for staff. An enforcement notice was served and Mr Chadha was instructed to act upon its findings.
Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority said: “I urge landlords, business owners and employers to remember that fire safety is a key part of running any business. You must make yourself aware of the regulations and undertake a fire safety risk assessment, which is now mandatory.”
Full story at FSE Online, where this text has been adapted from.