The Fire Protection Association (FPA) says that arson has become the single most frequent cause of fire in buildings of all kinds. According to the FPA one of the biggest problems is the public perception of arson as they see it as a crime against property and not so much a problem as after all the insurer will pay. In other words they fail to link arson with the misery and suffering it can cause.
Each week in the UK, on average:
- there are over 2,000 arson attacks
- two people die in arson fires
- arson causes over 50 injuries
- twenty schools and colleges are damaged or destroyed by arson
- three hundred and sixty businesses and public buildings are damaged or destroyed.
Arson fires tend to be more costly than accidental fires because they are set with the aim of causing the maximum amount of damage. Arson costs insurers more than £1 million a day, and uninsured losses increase this cost considerably.
Your fire risk assessment should always include a section on the threat of a deliberate fire and include measures on how this threat is combated. The significance of the threat may depend on the business you work for, the people you employ and the area where the building is situate. Poor employee relations can also be problematic.
Protecting against arson is not just about installing expensive and elaborate security; it is also about organisational management of the site. Arson is primarily an opportunistic crime and we should endeavour to take that opportunity away from the would be arsonist. A correctly formulated risk assessment should achieve this.
It is a known fact that in economically trying times the risk of arson increases so no matter how remote you may think your own risk of suffering an arson attack is, it may be advisable to re-visit your fire risk assessment and re-evaluate the risk.
Arson poses a threat to people, property and the environment so try to ensure that you do not become just another statistic.
For more information on fire risk assessment, risk management and business insurance, speak to Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers on 01603 218000 or visit our website – http://www.alanboswell.com/business-insurance/
