School Prosecutions?

[Wiz]

Guys, I did a quick search of the forum but got no results.

Is anyone aware of any fire safety prosecutions of educational establishments in the UK over the past few years?

It has occurred to me that many of the prosecutions I've read about recently, all seem to be against what would be broadly described as private businesses. Are schools and colleges etc treated differently or are they just all good at complying with the requirements?

[Martin]

http://www.bucksfire.gov.uk/BucksFire/News/2009/Governingbodyfinedforfiresafetybreaches.htm

Catholic Primary School Governors prosecuted. Had a fire risk assessment undertaken with significant findings but didn't act on it.

[Wiz]

http://www.bucksfire.gov.uk/BucksFire/News/2009/Governingbodyfinedforfiresafetybreaches.htm

Catholic Primary School Governors prosecuted. Had a fire risk assessment undertaken with significant findings but didn't act on it.

Cheers, Martin. Any more guys?

[kml]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/132/132345_schoolfire_heads_twoyear_nightmare.html

Martin - not a prosecution , but a close call for this lady in pre RRO times, useful as a gentle reminder of the responsibilities of the principal as regards fire safety and possible consequences.

[Martin]

Second part of Q re do schools have high standards. See

http://fire.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4847.0

for variety of opinions. I personally think in general schools do manage fire safety pretty well in terms of life safety. (Including dealing with increased admission of special need pupils into mainstream education. Special needs does not automatically increase risk.)

Arson and Business continuity etc is a much more mixed bag.

These are obviously subjective comments not neccesarily backed up with any science.

[chrisfire]

From my experience in one London borough (90 schools), the first step by the FB has always been an informal notice of deficiences (dressed up to look formal!) with a time period for rectification, this has always worked so far (nine notices). My experience of schools is they are either switched on, or head in the sand or perhaps smoke.

[TFEM]

Just been into a large college to find laptop charging trolleys plugged in and charging in the corridors on fire exit routes....suggested they got their FRA up to date.
Another school with CO2 extinguishers in corridors....not a class A rated extinguisher in sight.
Fire exits locked and chained in school holidays despite numerous staff and contractors on site....no provision for emergency escape.
Staff training in the use of extinguishers is practically non-existant. Food tech rooms with no fire blankets.
"Haven't got a proper FRA", "what's a responsible person", extinguishers locked in cupboards or offices......see them all virtually every day of the week.
County versus own county? Lack of enforcement? Lack of cash? Never happen here?

[Chris Houston]

Just been into a large college to find laptop charging trolleys plugged in and charging in the corridors on fire exit routes....suggested they got their FRA up to date.
Another school with CO2 extinguishers in corridors....not a class A rated extinguisher in sight.
Fire exits locked and chained in school holidays despite numerous staff and contractors on site....no provision for emergency escape.
Staff training in the use of extinguishers is practically non-existant. Food tech rooms with no fire blankets.
"Haven't got a proper FRA", "what's a responsible person", extinguishers locked in cupboards or offices......see them all virtually every day of the week.
County versus own county? Lack of enforcement? Lack of cash? Never happen here?

Admittedly it's been about 4 years since I was last looking around schools, but none of the above surprises me at all.

[kurnal]

Welcome back Chris. You around for a while this time?

[wee brian]

If they catch him a gain he'll get more than 4 years!

[WG]

Hi

I asked this question some months ago and then did quite alot of research but you will not find a great deal other than what folks have already said.

If you can find the thread, someone gave me a link to site with lots of info re prosecutions etc but only one school came up.

( ::They must all comply  )

Regards

[Golden]

I've worked in quite a few schools over the last year and the standards certainly vary; one of the worst I've seen had a letter on file from the local FB (sort of cross between an enforcement notice and a gentle word of advice) issued just after the FSO came into force regarding the two unprotected staircases serving the four floors of one building - and when I say unprotected I mean unprotected!! The letter had been issued five years previously, it said they would follow up, it failed to mention any of the other numerous issues with the school. I reported on all of the issues I found but would like to add to the original question with one of my own - would the FB have had to prosecute themselves had there been a fire in the school or any subsequent action been taken?

With respect to other schools some are excellent, some newly built schools have been designed by architects who clearly have not read any of the guidance/regulations available and some waste an awful lot of our money on providing fire resistance/extinguishers/signs etc. that they do not need - it would be a lot better spent on some training for their staff in my opinion which is also sadly lacking in many establishments.