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Hot fine after Shell breaches fire safety regulations

12 August 2009

A huge fine imposed on Shell emphasises the importance to all businesses - large and small - of carrying out the steps identified in a fire risk assessment and regularly reviewing that assessment.

Shell International Ltd was fined £300,000 in the Crown Court and ordered to pay £45,000 costs, after pleading guilty to serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO). 

The breaches related to events in 2006/7. In the space of three weeks, the London offices of Shell suffered two small fires, requiring fire crews to be called out.

Fire officers were unhappy with the fire precautions in place, and an inspection was arranged in January 2007.

Inspecting officers found extensive breaches of the RRO, including blocked escape routes and fire exits, defective fire doors, and a dramatic increase in the amount of combustible material in the building due to refurbishments in the upper floors.

The building’s fire risk assessment had not been reviewed or updated since March 2003, whereas an annual review would usually be appropriate.

The 2003 assessment identified some of the same failings observed during the 2007 inspection. If the recommendations had been actioned the fires may have been avoided and staff not put at risk.

The deficiencies were so severe that the London Fire Brigade served a prohibition notice on Shell restricting the use of parts of the building. Under the notice, only people working to remedy the fire safety deficiencies were allowed to enter those parts.

All employees and members of the public were prevented access until the affected areas were considered safe enough to occupy.

The subsequent prosecution for the fire safety breaches led to the largest fine so far imposed under the RRO.

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