Learn some simple steps you can take to protect your business from Arson attacks. A surprisingly high proportion of fires are started deliberately, but if you follow these guildelines you can drastically reduce the risk of your business being targetted.
Recent statistics show
that 45% of all fires in the UK
were started deliberately. Of these
arson attacks, 12,800 were on non-residential buildings such as your
workplace. These deliberate fires caused
118 deaths and 2,700 other casualties.
Arson is a very real
threat, and if you allow your business to be an easy target you are far more
likely to be the subject of an attack.
Taking steps to make life difficult for any would-be arsonist will almost
certainly mean they give up and look for a softer target.
Follow the following
simple steps to protect your business and your staff:
Ensure you have
carried out a Fire Risk Assessment and implemented any findings.
Make sure it is a
specific person’s job to be responsible for the prevention of arson attacks and
other fire safety issues.
Check the security of
your doors and windows, and any perimeter fences. Arson is often linked to burglary.
Consider CCTV to cover
the outside of your premises – this will act as a deterrent.
Fit metal containers
inside letter boxes and minimise gaps under doors.
Store bins and rubbish
away from the walls of your building, and chain wheelie bins up so they can’t
be set on fire then pushed against your building.
Keep combustible
materials away from your premises perimeter, to prevent matches, etc being
thrown into them from beyond your boundary.
Have proper systems in
place for visitors to your site and encourage staff to challenge anyone who
they think should not be on the premises.
Check fire fighting
equipment regularly to ensure it has not been tampered with.
Store any flammable
liquids correctly, in a secure store.
Have a thorough
locking up procedure that includes checks on all doors and windows, that alarms
are on, that external illumination is on and that no rubbish or combustible
material is left lying about outside.
Follow these simple
steps and you will go a long way to minimising the chances of your business
suffering as the result of an arson attack. To fully protect your business from risk of fire, ensure you carry out a Fire Risk Assessment (free step by step guide at www.fire-riskassessment.com), which is also a legal requirement.
K Garrow has managed large public buildings for the last twenty years. He shares some of his extensive experience of fire safety and other health and safety on his website www.Fire-RiskAssessment.com, offering detailed guidance on carrying out Fire Risk Assessments, etc.
