Belfast hostel owner prosecuted over fire safety offences

Belfast hostel owner prosecuted over fire safety offences

A Belfast hostel owner has been prosecuted and fined for breaching fire safety legislation – an outcome welcomed by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS).  The Linen House Hostel, Kent Street, owner was taken to court relating to eight charges of fire safety and was last month prosecuted at Belfast Magistrates Court, which led to a £1,200 fine plus costs.  Among the charges was failure to carry out a full fire risk assessment, which aims to reduce or eliminate the risk of a fire and ensure occupants remain able to escape in the result of a blaze.  Following the court case, which was concluded last month (January 29th), NIFRS reminded business owners in the country that they have an “important job” to play in making sure fire escapes are unblocked and easy to access.  And the authority also reiterated how it is essential to comply with Northern Ireland’s Fire Safety Legislation, or face prosecution.  Dale Ashford, assistant chief fire officer of NIFRS, explained that owners must also work with the local fire authority, not against them, in pursuit of the highest standards of safety.   “Since the changes in Fire Safety Legislation were introduced in November 2010 responsibility for fire safety in the workplace now clearly rests with people who are responsible for non-domestic premises and those with any degree of control of premises,” he noted.  “To date we have audited over 6,000 premises right across Northern Ireland to ensure that the required fire safety standards are being met and we have been working closely with premises owners and managers providing free fire safety advice to ensure their premises are up to standard.”  Mr Ashford concluded that in the case of the Belfast hostel, NIFRS had “no alternative to pursue prosecution” after co-operation was refused.  A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment must be conducted on all commercial properties in Northern Ireland under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.  If the fire risk assessment is deemed to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the Appropriate Person can face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years

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