Restaurant owner fined over lack of fire risk assessment

A Gloucester restaurant owner has been fined after pleading guilty to ten charges of failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including not carrying out a fire risk assessment.

On 6 November 2009 the Fire Service was called to a fire in accommodation above the Connoisseur Tandoori Restaurant in Gloucester, where several breaches of fire safety legislation were discovered.

Fire safety enforcement officers conducted an investigation and found that some partitions and escape routes were not fire-resisting and employees had not been provided with fire safety training.  Unauthorised sleeping accommodation for staff had been provided and no fire alarm and smoke detectors were available. The investigating officers also found that a fire risk assessment had not been completed.

Restaurant owner, Mr Choudhury, was fined £2,900 and ordered to pay costs of £1,500. He was also required to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Group Manager, Richard Smith, Senior Fire Safety Enforcement Officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said:

"If a fire risk assessment had been carried out, it would have identified the measures required to make the premises safe such as a fire alarm, emergency lighting, fire doors and staff training."