New Look fine an indication of poor facilities management?
November 30th 16:32 Health and Safety
Clothing retailer New Look has been fined £400,000 for its role in failing to prevent a fire that took place at its Oxford Street store two years ago.
The High Street chain was prosecuted after an investigation of the blaze that started on April 26th 2007 showed that rules had been breached with regards to how the incident was handled by the store.
It pleaded guilty to breaking the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 after the LFB took action when it emerged that an inadequate fire risk assessment had been carried out - a possible sign of poor facilities management.
Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Councillor Brian Coleman said that the conviction proves that "large companies are not exempt from prosecution".
"Good business management includes taking responsibility for fire safety, knowing the law and acting on it," he added.
The LFB has also successfully prosecuted landlord Mohammed Khan, who was found guilty of breaching health and safety regulation at the City of Westminster Magistrates Court earlier this month.
