I think the answer is yes. There is some case law (cant remember which one) about a fire person falling down a pit in a workshop and sustained an injury whilst fighting a fire. It was held that the employer should have covered up the pit after the shift had finished. This maybe contained in fire safety regulations see below. http://www.legislation.g...uk/asp/2005/5/section/59

Woody With respect, I think you are getting your law a bit muddled. So, this is how I see the scenario you have painted. An employer has a duty pursuant to s3 HSWA to anyone not an employee who may be affected by the undertaking i.e. the business. This includes firemen or nay other blue light personnel. Furthermore, as per MHSWR the employer has a duty to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments and record the significant findings if they employ five or more...this assessment should include the risk to non-employees as well employees. There is also a civil law duty of care pursuant to OLA 1957 as amended as a means of redress following an injury. I suspect the real issue is how culpable would a proprietor/landlord be if having been given prior information of a serious risk which could affect others like firemen in the course of their duty. Ultimately it is for the authorities to decide if their is a case and for the court to decide if they are guilty or not. Each case will be judged on its own particular circumstances. If the failure resulted in a fatality then there is also the option of gross negligent manslaughter or corporate manslaughter indictment, the latter being more unlikely. Now go and inform the 'building owner' before someone gets hurt :)