A simple risk assessment checklist for commerce and industry

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Method of Control

Marks Awarded

Awareness of vulnerability to arson attack

Management must be alert to the possibility of arson attacks from employees or from outsiders. Employers should be selected carefully and good labour relations maintained, so that no employees have an incentive to commit arson.

 

Security measures to prevent intruders entering the building

Intruders should be deterred by boundary fences, or be challenged before reaching the building. The building itself must be secure.

 

Detection of Intruders

If security measures are breached, can an intruder be detected?

 

Control of ignition sources other than arson

Inherent ignition sources should be kept to a minimum, to avoid staff and visitors causing fires

 

Control of easily ignitable material

Procedures must ensure that quantities of easily combustible material do not accumulate, inside or outside the building, especially in areas where ignition could occur.

 

Detection of fire at an early stage

Has a suitable fire warning system been installed or are there reasons to suppose that the fire brigade may not attend promptly in the event of a fire occurring

 

Installation of fire extinguishing systems related to the potential fire growth rate

If the combustibility of the stored materials is high and/or the fire station is distant, sprinklers or an equivalent system would be expected

 

Division of areas by fire-break walls to limit the extent of the fire spread

Large areas should be compartmented to control fire spread and separate buildings must not be too closely spaced

 

Segregation of high value stock into appropriately protected warehouses

Any high value stock should be separated into especially secure and appropriately protected warehouse areas.

 

General competence and reliability of staff

Fire safety depends on staff operating good fire safety management practices and reacting correctly to any untoward occurrences

 

TOTAL

 

 

Source: Lewis 1999:26

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