The real cost of playing with fire

This week, the company that owned the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, where three peopledied in a fire in August 2007, has been fined £80,000 for breaching fire safety legislation andordered to pay £62,000 in costs. The company pleaded guilty to failing to carry out a suitableand sufficient fire risk assessment and failing to ensure the hotel was properly equipped withdetectors and alarms.
Fire safety legislation and the management of fire precautions is an essential responsibilityof any company – particularly those in the hotel and leisure industry because they providesleeping accommodation. Sentinel Fire & Security has extensive experience of carrying outrisk assessments and installing suitable fire and security systems into hotels and guesthouses. Last year, for example, following a thorough risk assessment, we worked with theowners of a major London hotel to provide them with a fully compliant fire detection andsuppression system that incorporated bespoke help points and escape routes suitable forall of their guests, particularly the disabled, elderly and children.
Crucially, we have also developed a training programme for all of their staff, led by their ownappointed fire safety officer, to ensure that all staff know exactly how to respond in case of an emergency.

Being safe costs money. Playing with fire costs lives.

Tags: fire risk assessment; fire detection; suppression; training