Business owners have been issued a strong reminder of the need to comply with fire safety legislation following the prosecution of a national retailer at Mansfield Magistrates Court.

B&M Retail Ltd received a total penalty of £32,984.17 after pleading guilty to six fire safety offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

Fire Protection officers from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service had visited the B&M Bargains store in Mansfield in June 2011 and found that the fire precautions which should have been provided in the event of a fire were inadequate, presenting a serious risk to the lives of B&M Bargains' customers and staff.

When Fire Protection officers re-visited the premises in October 2011 they discovered that several breaches had been repeated, including the locking of fire exits.

Today, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding all owners and occupiers of buildings of their legal responsibility to protect their customers and staff against the risk of fire and warning them that, where necessary, action will be taken against anyone found to be in breach of fire safety regulations.

Ian Taylor, Fire Protection Group Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are here to provide advice and support to local businesses and are always willing to help to make sure they comply with the fire safety legislation. However, the public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety very seriously and will use legal sanctions where necessary."

Further fire safety advice and guidance for all types of premises is available at www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/ 

Posted 31/05/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com