Trader fined for breaching prohibition notice

A local trader’s been fined and given a suspended jail term after defying an order banning him from servicing fire extinguishers.

Ross Ward of A1 Fire Protection was issued with a prohibition notice by the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate in December 2013.

It prevented him from servicing extinguishers until he could prove his competence.

But just three months later, a joint investigation by the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate, Office of Fair Trading and Fire and Rescue Service found he’d worked on equipment at a children’s nursery in Douglas.

Ward was given a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a £1,000 fine for breaching the prohibition notice.

Department of Infrastructure member with responsibility for health and safety Richard Ronan MHK says maintaining public safety is of paramount importance.

He’s urging businesses to make sure those who maintain their fire equipment are competent to do so.

And in a stark warning to companies who carry out the work, he says ignoring enforcement notices will land them in court.