According to UK fire statistics, arson accounts for 40% of fires in commercial premises and over 20% in residential properties*.
All premises are potential targets for arson however some are particularly vulnerable eg:
- Schools Unoccupied buildings
- Places of worship
- Newspaper premises
- Farms and abattoirs
- Animal research centres
There are several things that can be done to minimise the risk of arson:
Security Protections
Security decisions should be made with arson risk in mind eg improve your perimeter fencing, install security lighting and/or remotely monitored CCTV.
Staff Precautions
Staff should be made aware of the risk of arson, encouraged to challenge any strangers on the premises and report suspicious behaviour. Contractors working on the premises should be adequately supervised.
Denial of Fuel
Waste materials should be removed from the premises on a daily basis and placed in bins or skips securely sited at least 10m from the buildings and at least 2m from the site perimeter. Where 10m space is not achievable, waste should be kept in lockable metal containers stored as far away from the building as possible.
Closedown Procedures
Robust closedown procedures assist in controlling arson, fire and theft risks. At the end of each working day, all areas should be inspected to ensure that:
- Staff and visitors are accounted for
- Waste materials have been removed
- Flammable gases and liquids have been locked away
- All fire and security protection systems are operative
For further risk management advice, call us on 0161 438 0000.
*Risk Control, RISC Authority Report 2010
