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First employee prosecuted for fire safety breach

A care home manager who was in charge when a fire alarm was silenced during a blaze has been convicted of a safety breach.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, who brought the prosecution, this is the first time an employee has been prosecuted under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Karen Sykes appeared before Manchester Crown Court last week following the fire at Oldfield Bank Residential Care Home in Altrincham.

The court heard how fire broke out in May 2009 when Sykes was Duty Manager. The fire alarm went off at about 6pm. The alarm was silenced but Sykes failed to ensure that a proper search of the premises was carried out. A fire was later discovered in one of the rooms and a 999 call was made at about 7.15pm. The alarm was discovered in ‘silence’ mode when crew from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service arrived to tackle the blaze. Elderly resident, Beryl West, died following the fire and an inquest into her death is scheduled to be heard by Stockport Coroner later this month.

In sentencing Sykes, who was fined £500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, Judge Justice Lakin said: “My duty is clear. I have to apply the law. As the manager of the care home it was Sykes’ responsibility for the fire alarm and evacuation.”

Fire Alarm Engineer, Christopher Morris, has already been sentenced in relation to the same incident and was ordered to pay £5,000, with £6,000 being awarded to the Authority.

“This case clearly highlights and enforces the message that employees have a duty to ensure the safety of the people they are looking after. This type of behaviour simply isn’t acceptable and we should not forget that an elderly resident in Sykes’ care died that night.

“This is the first time an employee has been prosecuted under this legislation, as opposed to the employer

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