Workers' lives put in danger at Manchester karaoke bar

Date:

10 December 2010

Release No:

HSE/NW/47MusicBox

The owners of a new karaoke bar in Manchester risked the lives of workers and the public after a string of fire safety procedures were ignored during construction.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the site of the K2 nightclub on George Street in the city centre found large quantities of cardboard and other packaging discarded throughout the site.

Music Box Karaoke Ltd, and site manager Marc Royle appeared at Trafford Magistrates' Court to admit breaching three health and safety regulations each.

Large quantities of cardboard and other packaging discarded throughout the K2 site

When HSE inspectors visited the K2 site on 28 January 2009, they found potentially flammable materials piled high to the ceiling in the basement, escape routes were not marked and in some cases were blocked entirely.

The court heard the HSE inspectors were shocked at the scene that confronted them and, had a fire been ignited at the site, the risk to life would have been extremely serious.

The building's fire alarm had been switched off and the fire extinguishers found on site had not been tested for seven years. HSE immediately issued two prohibition notices closing the site down until significant improvements were made.

It took a total of 14 large skips and several people more than two days, working through the night, to clear the waste materials.

Neil Martin, the investigating inspector at HSE, said:

"We were called in after receiving a complaint about the safety standards on site and were shocked by what we found. The basement and corridors were blocked with waste materials so it would have been extremely difficult to escape in a fire.

"There was a Chinese restaurant open to the public on the first floor and the neighbouring buildings were also occupied. Just one spark could have set light to any of the piles of cardboard, and then dozens of lives would have been put in danger.

"Music Box Karaoke and Marc Royle both seemed to be ignorant of the health and safety laws that applied to them."

Music Box Karaoke Ltd of Greengate Industrial Estate, Greenside Way, Middleton, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 14(1), 16(a) and 21(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and fined £6,000 with costs of £3,313.

Marc Royle, 37, of Lambton Road, Worsley, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 38(a), 39(1) and 41(1) and fined £450 with costs of £2,710.

Information on fire safety on construction sites is available at www.hse.gov.uk/construction.

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 14(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states: "Where a project is notifiable, the client shall appoint a person ("the CDM co-ordinator") to perform the duties specified...as soon as is practicable after initial design work or other preparation for construction work has begun."
2. Regulation 16(a) states: "Where the project is notifiable, the client shall ensure that the construction phase does not start unless...the principal contractor has prepared a construction phase plan."
3. Regulation 21(1) states: "The CDM co-ordinator shall as soon as is practicable after his appointment ensure that notice is given to the Executive containing such of the particulars specified in Schedule 1 as are available."
4. Regulation 38(a) states: "Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of injury to any person during the carrying out of construction work arising from fire or explosion."
5. Regulation 39(1) states: "Where necessary in the interests of the health and safety of any person on a construction site, there shall be prepared and, where necessary, implemented suitable and sufficient arrangements for dealing with any foreseeable emergency, which arrangements shall include procedures for any necessary evacuation of the site or any part thereof."
6. Regulation 41(1) states: "Where necessary in the interests of the health and safety of any person at work on a construction site there shall be provided suitable and sufficient fire-fighting equipment, and fire detection and alarm systems, which shall be suitably located."
7. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR North West