Shell International Ltd. attracted a fine of £300,000 and incurred costs of £45,000 after the London Fire Brigade found it guilty of having violated the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, 2005.

Two minor fires at the Shell Centre located on York Road, London prompted the London Fire Brigade to conduct an investigation of the premises. Inoperative fire doors, blocked escape routes and fire exits and excessive fire loading demonstrated the negligence of the company.

The inspection, which was carried out on 12^th January 2007, was followed by another one on the 15^th and consequently, all the failings reported during the investigations were resolved. So grave were the defects that Shell Tower was put on prohibition notice and everyone except those involved in the rectification of the lapses in safety were kept out.

It was only after it was declared safe for use that the prohibition notice was lifted and the structure opened to employees and other individuals. Besides the blocked fire exit routes and defective fire doors, the basement and Shell Tower were excessively fire loaded due to restoration work in progress on the top floors. Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions to employees with regard to health and safety issues to ensure the risk of fire is minimised; click for more info on fire warden training from Workplace Law.

The punitive action taken against the company is only fair as it was revealed that Shell had last carried out an investigation of its fire safety system in March 2003, even though a risk assessment is advised every year on an average. Not only did it forego an update of the risk assessment for over three years, but it failed to act on the recommendations of the 2003 assessment, which led to the worsening situation. Some of the failings reported in the 2007 investigation had also been mentioned in the earlier risk assessment, but since the company saw no reason to rectify these, it ensured itself an appearance in court.