Fire safety compliance in care facilities has never been more urgent. The recent prosecution of the person in control at Morvern Care Centre in Lancashire serves as a powerful wake-up call for every care provider across the UK. Multiple serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 were uncovered, putting dozens of vulnerable elderly and vulnerable residents at immediate risk. This case proves that fire safety compliance is not optional, it is a legal and moral imperative.
What Happened at Morvern Care Centre?
In December 2020, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service conducted a routine inspection that quickly escalated into a major enforcement action. Fire safety officers identified numerous life-threatening deficiencies, including inadequate fire risk assessments, poor compartmentation, and insufficient staff training. The risks were so severe that a Prohibition Notice was issued immediately, leading to the urgent evacuation and relocation of 45 vulnerable residents to safer facilities.
Rajest Kumar Chechani, the responsible individual, faced serious consequences in court: a suspended prison sentence, a £10,000 fine, plus substantial legal costs. This fire safety prosecution demonstrates that regulators and the courts are taking an increasingly tough stance on non-compliance in care settings.
Why Fire Safety Compliance in Care Facilities Matters More Than Ever
Care home residents are among the most vulnerable people in society. Many have limited mobility, cognitive impairments, or medical conditions that make self-evacuation almost impossible. A single lapse in fire safety compliance can turn a manageable incident into a tragedy. The Morvern case is unfortunately not isolated, similar prosecutions and enforcement actions continue to rise across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Robust fire safety compliance protects lives, safeguards your organisation’s reputation, avoids crippling financial penalties, and ensures continued registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and equivalent bodies.
7 Key Fire Safety Compliance Lessons Every Care Provider Must Apply Today
- Conduct Regular and Thorough Fire Risk Assessments The foundation of fire safety compliance starts with a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, reviewed at least annually or whenever significant changes occur.
- Keep Fire Doors and Compartmentation in Perfect Condition Inspect and maintain fire doors weekly. Even a wedge or faulty closer can invalidate compartmentation and allow rapid fire spread.
- Train All Staff and Prove It Every employee, including night staff and agency workers, must receive documented fire safety training on induction and at least twice yearly thereafter.
- Test and Maintain All Fire Safety Systems Weekly Alarms, emergency lighting, sprinklers (where fitted), and extinguishers must be tested and serviced according to British Standards.
- Develop and Rehearse Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) Every resident with mobility or cognitive needs must have an individual PEEP that is regularly practised with staff.
- Keep Clear, Accurate and Up-to-Date Records In the event of an inspection or incident, you must be able to produce evidence of compliance instantly.
- Appoint and Empower a Competent Responsible Person The “Responsible Person” under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 carries both corporate and personal liability, choose wisely and support them fully.
How AL23 Safety Can Help You Achieve Outstanding Fire Safety Compliance
At AL23 Safety, we specialise in fire safety compliance for care facilities throughout the UK. Our expert consultants provide:
- Comprehensive fire risk assessments
- Staff fire safety training & fire warden courses
- Fire door surveys and remediation plans
- PEEP development and evacuation drills
- Ongoing compliance audits and Responsible Person support
Don’t wait for an enforcement notice or prosecution to act. The cost of prevention is a fraction of the cost of failure.
Contact AL23 Safety today for a free initial fire safety compliance review. Protect your residents, your staff, and your future.
