Care home owners fined for failing to provide fire safety

A landlord who failed to provide basic fire safety in a residential home in Rochdale has been fined.

In a routine visit to Newhey Manor in April last year fire crews found a number of failings which were reported to specialist safety officers.

Further checks were carried out and at a subsequent inspection a number of fire safety issues were highlighted and a decision to take legal action was made.

The defendant Lily Care Ltd pleaded guilty on the following breaches of the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order and was ordered to pay £4688. 

• failing to make a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
• failing to keep emergency routes and exits clear
• failing to reduce the risk as far as reasonable practicable of dangerous substance
• failing to provide adequate staff training 

Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Authority Councillor Paul Shannon said: “We welcome the clear message from the courts that action will be taken against those businesses that neglect fire safety and thereby risk the safety of staff and the public.
The Fire Authority is focused on helping businesses operate safely and taking action when they don’t.”

County Fire Officer and Chief Executive Steve McGuirk said: “We always support businesses that work to make their premises safe for people to use. But we are also willing to take actions to protect the people of Greater Manchester where business owners and managers choose not to treat fire safety as a legitimate business requirement, and where necessary will prosecute serious offenders.”