Serious fire-safety breaches cost Asda
National food retailer Asda Stores Limited has been ordered to pay more than £55,000 in fines and costs for committing serious fire-safety breaches at a store in Berkshire.
Appearing at Reading Crown Court the firm pleaded guilty to two charges brought under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The case had received an earlier hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court, but was referred to the Crown Court, where a number of further charges were brought into account.
Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) brought the charges following an inspection of Asda’s store in Cippenham, near Slough. The court heard that the breaches presented a serious and life-threatening risk, not only to the staff who worked in the store but also to customers and other members of the public.
Counsel for the prosecution, told the court that the inspection, which was carried out following a complaint, identified serious breaches to fire-safety regulations, including:
- two fire-exit doors chained and locked shut;
- obstruction of fire-escape routes;
- combustible items obstructing fire-exit doors and escape routes; and
- fire-exit doors wedged open.
The court also heard that the company had previously been served with a caution relating to two other contraventions relating to other fire-safety matters.
Summing up, Judge Grainger recognised Asda Stores’ guilty plea and mitigation, but underlined that the breaches were very serious. He fined the company £20,000 for each offence, with full costs totalling £15,647 awarded to the Fire Authority.
