Risk Assessment: Checklist for places of worship

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The Fire Protection Association has published this risk assessment tool as a means to help quantify the risk of arson to identified places of worship.

The points scored in Section B of the checklist should be deducted from the points scored in Section A. The results should be interpreted as follows:

Less than 20: Low risk, not too much to worry about, but continue to review the situation.

20-50: Normal risk, consider whether additional protection measures can be adopted.

50-100: High risk, protection measures could be improved

Over 100: Abnormally high risk, disaster can be expected unless effective action is taken

Part A

Points
1. The premises are in an isolated location 12
2. The building is not in a good state of repair 12
3. The premises are in an urban area 15
4. The building is open throughout the day (whether or not there is a responsible person present 20
5. There are a number of points of entry to a building that are open all day 20
6. The premises have suffered small fires, break-ins or malicious damage during the past two years 15
7. There have been fires and/or break-ins to other places of worship in the locality in recent months 10
8. There are articles of value on display in the premises 15
9. The building is used by outside groups or as a community centre 8
10.There is no security policy for the building and no nominated official to oversee security 10
11.The building has no fire protection equipment and no advice has been sought form the fire authority for the past 5 years 10

TOTAL A

 

 

Part B

 

Points

There is a system of management ensuring that when the building is open the arrival and departure of visitors is monitored

12

The building has an intruder alarm (installed by a company approved by the National Approval Council for Security Systems)

8

The intruder alarm is connected to a central monitoring station

12

The building is equipped with fire extinguishers/hose reels that are clearly visible

4

The building has an automatic fire detection installation (installed by a Loss Prevention Certification Board approved company)

4

The automatic fire detection installation system is connected to a remote central monitoring station

8

The building has locks to BS 3621 on all external doors and key operated window locks on all windows that are accessible from outside

10

There is an external security lighting installation

8

There are external CCTV cameras

12

Total B

 
Total A =

Total B =

Total (A-B) =

Source: Lewis 1999:49

Note: Completion of this form will assist you in completing your Fire Risk Assessment required under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations which came into force on 1 December 1997.

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