Press Releases from the Arson Task Force
BUSINESSES URGED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
Businesses in the West Midlands battling the credit crunch are being offered free advice on how to reduce the risk of crime and fire destroying their hard work and livelihood.
Every Spring sees a rise in the number of fires and arson attacks on businesses, and there are concerns that this year the increase could be higher due to the difficult economic climate.
West Midlands Arson Task Force is warning bosses that cutting corners in fire safety could end up costing them much more, and has produced an information pack to help them avoid seeing their businesses go up in smoke.
Keep Your Business in Business is designed as a reference manual to provide the best arson, fire and crime prevention advice to small and medium sized businesses.
It combines Fire Service and Police information in an easy to read sectioned format. The latest version of KYBIB includes a guide to assist bosses to carry out their mandatory fire risk self assessment in order to comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which was introduced in October 2006.
Basic steps which can be used to prevent arson are:
- Carrying out a mandatory Fire Risk Assessment
- Ensuring the property is secured with adequate locks on doors and windows
- Identifying possible entry routes for intruders and taking action to prevent such access
- Minimising the accumulation of combustible waste materials
- Placing skips and bins away from buildings
- Providing adequate security lighting
If a business thinks it is at greater risk because of previous incidents or other circumstances, it should consider further actions including:
- Fitting an external mailbox or a fire proof mail box
- Fitting a fire alarm system
- Fitting additional security devices - security grills / CCTV
- Fitting a sprinkler system
- Up grade easy access windows
Sergeant Phil Butler, from West Midlands Arson Task Force, said: "The aim of the guide is to reduce the amount of fires that businesses suffer from, and to provide guidance that will allow a business to recover more quickly, should a fire occur.
"Many businesses will be looking for ways to save money at the moment, but cutting back on safety issues is not the way to go as a fire can destroy a business.
"We are urging businesses to take this warning on board and work with us to meet their responsibilities and protect themselves.
"When fires do occur, we work with specialist fire investigators to find out exactly what has happened and bring any criminals to justice."
Station Officer Ian Rawlings, co-ordinator of the West Midlands Arson Taskforce, said: "Fire risk management should be fundamental to all business plans and this guide will help businesses carry out their legal requirements to protect themselves and their staff from these potentially business-destroying incidents."
To get a copy of Keep Your Business in Business visit www.wmarsontaskforce.gov.uk or contact the team at Kingswinford Police Station on 0121 380 6733.
West Midlands Fire Service also provides professional fire safety courses through its Commercial and Industrial Training Unit (CITU). This offers a wide range of courses at competitive rates to help businesses meet their legal responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
Courses include Fire Marshal, Fire Safety Awareness, Managing Fire Safety, Practical Evacuation and Fire Safety in Schools. Instructors can deliver courses at the CITU base at the Training Centre in Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, or on-site at the business.
For more information on the CITU and course details phone 0121 380 7380 or visit www.wmfs.net
Issued by West Midlands Fire Service's Media Relations Office. For further information contact Mike Fox on 0121 380 6101 or mike.fox@wmfs.net.
Regular updates on incidents and other WMFS activities can be found on the media voicebank on 0871 550 0056.