Asda fined for fire breaches

Supermarket giant Asda has accrued more than £55,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to two charges at its Slough store, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order SI 2005/1541.

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) brought the charges after they inspected the premises following a complaint. They identified serious fire safety breaches, including:

• two fire exit doors chained and locked shut;
• obstructed fire escape routes;
• combustible items obstructing fire exit doors and escape routes;
• fire exit doors wedged open.

The company had previously been served with a caution in July 2000, for contraventions relating to other fire safety legislation.

David Walden, RBFA's Fire Safety Legal Support Manager said, "This was a clear case of a major retailing company failing to comply with fire safety regulations and, by doing so, placing people at serious risk. It also provides further evidence that some businesses continue to treat compliance with fire safety legislation as an option - it is not. Staff and customers are entitled to feel safe when working at, or visiting, a supermarket, or any other business. We will continue with our efforts to ensure that any business owner, or manager who refuses to take these obligations seriously will be brought before the courts."