Union Street vape shop not inspected for health and safety
A Glasgow vape shop that suffered a devastating fire had not received recent health and safety inspections.Summary
An investigation has revealed that the vape shop on Union Street in Glasgow, which was destroyed by a devastating fire in March, had not undergone any planned health and safety inspections in 2024 or 2025. This comes amid findings from the Jimmy Reid Foundation suggesting that many Scottish local authorities have moved away from routine inspections in favor of a "targeted" approach based on specific risks or intelligence.
Glasgow City Council defended its actions, stating that national guidance encourages a risk-based approach and that there was no information to justify a proactive inspection of the shop, as vape stores are not classified as high-risk like nightclubs. However, critics, including the director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation and architect Alan Dunlop, argue that such preventative inspections could have mitigated the risks. The fire caused significant damage to the historic Union Corner building and continues to impact local businesses and commuters in the area.
(Source：The Herald)
