Allianz slams non-compliance after fatality

An Allianz spokesman has warned businesses of the consequences of non-compliance with health and safety legislation after a landlord died of carbon monoxide poisoning from an unserviced gas fire.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Paul Lee, landlord of the Aintree Hotel in Merseyside, died of a heart attack caused by lack of oxygen after turning on the fire, according to reports in Safety & Health Practitioner.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Enterprise Inns Plc, which owns Aintree Hotel, should have ensured annual gas safety inspections were carried out at 868 of its pubs, but that 394 had valid gas safety certificates, Health & Safety practitioner said.

An Allianz spokesman said: "This case highlights the fatal consequences of non-compliance with existing health and safety laws and should be a lesson to all businesses of the reputational and financial punishments they may face if they fail to meet their obligations.

"This is another example of the opportunities that exist for brokers to add real value to client relationships by advising on health and safety regulation and ensuring that clients have access to the certification services they require to remain compliant."

The HSE issued an improvement notice in January 2008 which required Enterprise Inns to arrange a gas service at all of the pubs without safety certificates.

Enterprise Inns said it had now implemented a system to ensure that gas-safety checks are undertaken every 11 months, and had introduced a policy that prevents a property being leased without a gas service being carried out, according to reports.