What happens if a business breaches their fire safety duties?
If a business is found to have breached any of the fire safety regulations, it is a criminal offence and they risk prosecution, as is the case with any other regulatory crimes. Very serious breaches can result in significant fines and potentially a prison sentence for those considered responsible under law.
There is no official limit to the amount that a business can be fined if they break fire safety law, but minor penalties usually mean a fine of several thousand pounds and serious breaches, significantly more. The person responsible may also be sentenced for up to two years in prison.
Fire safety enforcement action
If it is found that your business is not operating in adherence to the fire safety regulations, this could be as a result of a routine fire inspection or after an incident promoted an investigation, you can be issued with various types of notice to make the necessary improvements. These include:
- An alterations notice – if alterations made to the premises might cause a serious risk
- An enforcement notice – giving notice of what changes need to be made, and a deadline for completion
- A prohibition notice – ordering the closure or restriction of the premises immediately because of a serious safety risk
Legal assistance with fire safety regulations
Whether you require the assistance of fire safety lawyers in London or across the UK to assist with your business’ compliance with the regulations, or you need advice in relation to enforcement action or fire safety prosecutions, we can help.
Our team of fire safety solicitors cover London, the South of England and can offer specialist support anywhere in England and Wales. We always strive to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients, and can help with any aspect of regulatory law. For more information about how we can help your business with fire safety, call us on 0161 696 6250.