Construction companies are being urged to take note of the severe consequences of neglecting fire safety on site. Each year there are estimated to be hundreds of fires on construction sites, potentially putting the lives of workers and members of the public at risk. Any outbreak of fire threatens the safety of those on site and is costly in terms of its damage and delay. Many can be avoided by careful planning and control of work activities.
Tom Richmond, Operations Director at Safety Group UK, said: “The biggest oversight we see is treating fire risk assessment as a tick box exercise rather than a dynamic process. Many assessments fail to account for the constantly changing nature of construction sites; what is safe on Monday can be completely different by Wednesday when new contractors arrive or work phases change.”
Richmond explained that too often site managers focus only on end use, overlooking safety during the construction process itself. He added: “Contractors often focus on the finished building’s fire safety but neglect how workers will evacuate safely during the build process when escape routes may be blocked or incomplete.”
The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 remains the most devastating reminder of what can happen when fire safety is compromised. Seventy-two people lost their lives in that tragedy, and it shook public confidence in the construction and housing sector. Grenfell highlighted the catastrophic consequences of neglect, corner cutting and failure to comply with regulations.
Every subsequent case of fire safety failure, no matter the scale, carries echoes of Grenfell and underlines why strict compliance is a non-negotiable duty. To avoid another tragedy on that scale, construction companies must treat fire safety as a priority from day one of any project. This means carrying out thorough fire risk assessments at every stage, installing appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, maintaining escape routes, ensuring firefighting equipment is available, and preserving compartmentation during phased works.
The case of Glovers Court Ltd, who were fined £165,000 following repeated breaches of fire safety law, should serve as a clear warning to the industry. The Altrincham based company was redeveloping a warehouse in Preston into thirty-five apartments when inspectors uncovered serious failings.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service first visited the site in May 2023 and found such significant risks that a prohibition notice was issued, forcing residents already living in the building to leave immediately. The Health and Safety Executive then inspected and discovered there was no fire detection system, no alarm to alert people in case of a blaze, inadequate escape routes, and a complete lack of compartmentation to prevent fire spreading between floors. These are the very basics of fire safety management. Yet despite both prohibition and improvement notices being served, the company continued work without taking any action. Subsequent inspections months later revealed the same failures.
In June 2025 Preston Magistrates’ Court found Glovers Court Ltd guilty of multiple offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. By then the company had already gone into liquidation but was ordered to pay £165,000 in fines and more than £10,000 in costs.
HSE inspector Christine McGlynn said: “This company showed a blatant disregard to both fire safety and the laws in place to protect both people and places. Each year there are estimated to be hundreds of fires on construction sites, potentially putting the lives of workers and members of the public at risk. Any outbreak of fire threatens the safety of those on site and is costly in terms of its damage and delay. Many can be avoided by careful planning and control of work activities.”
A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This prosecution highlights the positive outcomes multi agency working has for fire safety in Lancashire. It also highlights the critical importance property developers, owners and managers must give to fire safety. We welcome the court’s recognition of the seriousness of these breaches and hope this serves as a clear message to all about their legal and moral responsibilities.”
The Glovers Court case demonstrates the costs of failing to act until it is too late. Richmond noted that while prosecutions deliver a strong message, they are no substitute for prevention, stating: “Enforcement action certainly gets attention, but it is reactive rather than preventive. We need a fundamental shift towards viewing fire safety as integral to project success, not just regulatory compliance.”
The message for construction companies could not be clearer. Fire safety cannot be an afterthought. The law requires a suitable and sufficient fire management plan and strict adherence to regulations. Ignoring these duties places lives in danger and leaves companies exposed to crippling fines, reputational collapse and even closure. The Glovers Court case shows exactly what not to do. Every contractor and developer must ensure that fire safety is built into the project from the start and maintained throughout. Anything less is a gamble with people’s safety and the survival of the business itself.
