Fire and Security Checklist

Fire and Security Checklist

You may find the following fire and security checklist helpful. It is recommended that the list is checked six monthly with your Health and Safety checklist.

Fire safety

YESNO

Storage

Are goods kept in designated storage areas?

Are they stored correctly away from lighting units,

or other sources of ignition?

Are the store spaces secured against unauthorised entry?

Is the use and storage of dangerous goods accommodated

as necessary under COSHH Regulations?

Dangerous goods

Are flammable and oily rags disposed of separately

from other combustible materials?

Are flammable and dangerous goods stored in

purpose-built storerooms or cupboards away from

other combustible items?

Are personnel involved with the use of flammable liquids

and dangerous goods aware of the hazards and precautions

to take in the event of an accident?

Electricity

Are plugs and electrical equipment correctly wired and

regularly maintained by a competent person?

Are electrical safety tests carried out regularly and certified?

Portable Apparatus Testing and Fixed Electrical Tests

If your electrical equipment develops a fault, is it taken out

of use and is it quickly repaired?

Is anyone designated to switch off electrical equipment and

to remove plugs before closing up the building for the night?

Gas

Are gas appliances regularly checked and faults rectified?

YESNO

Awareness

Are members of staff aware of the risk of fire and the

measures necessary to reduce the risk?

Are staff involved in ‘end-of-the-day’ risk management

practices?

Are the cleaners aware of the fire safety measures?

Are you in contact with the local Fire Safety Officer –

is the Officer’s advice sought?

Are members of the Public using the school premises

aware of what to do in case of fire?

Is the access for emergency vehicles kept clear and

accessible?

Doors and windows

Are doors to rooms, stairways and corridors kept closed

when not in use?

Do occupants check to ensure that wedges are not being

used to prop doors open?

Is someone designated to check that all doors and windows

are closed last thing at night?

Smoking

Are there designated zones provided on the site for

smokers? (these must be outside the building!).

If an external smoking zone is available, is there an

appropriatedisposal bin for smoking waste?

Have occupants been instructed about the corporate policy

on smoking in County Council properties?

Contractors in building

Is a person designated to ensure that additional fire and

safety precautions are taken when workmen are carrying

out maintenance work?

Do you use a written hot work permit for hazardous work

carried out by Contractors?

YESNO

Do Contractors certify/sign up to their compliance with –

• Child Protection Policy
• Asbestos Management Policy (RSM)
• Electrical and Water Hygiene Systems
• Smoking Policy

Equipment

Do staff (administrative and teaching)

know how to operate the fire alarm?

Do you know what to do in case of fire?

Is the fire alarm system properly maintained and

tested on a regular basis?

Main Services

Do you know where the main isolation points are for

electricity, gas and water and are they clearly marked

and unobstructed?

Storage of combustible waste

Are paper and floor waste prevented from accumulating

and regularly emptied from waste bins?

Are waste storage containers kept at least 5 metres from

thebuilding and anchored in position or otherwise protected

against vandalism and arson?

Are outside waste bins kept covered with a lockable lid and

are they secured away from vandals who may set light to

theircontents?

Are there different waste management systems in

place for holiday periods?

Fire fighting equipment

Are staff, other occupants and visitors given instructions

on what to do in case of fire?

Are staff trained regularly in the use of fire fighting

equipment?

YESNO

Crime prevention

Doors

Is there an established routine to ensure that all

external doors are locked when the building closes?

Have you considered the practicality of reducing the

number of entrance/exit doors to the building?

Are bolts on double doors checked to make sure that

they function properly?

Have you considered replacing external doors which

havea large amount of glazing with solid core 44mm

thick doors?

Is ironmongery adequate and suitable and robust on

vulnerableexternal doors?

Windows

When windows are closed, are catches checked to make

sure they function properly?

Have you considered reducing the amount of glazing

and/orthe use of laminated glass in vulnerable areas?

Are windows fitted with internal blinds, external shutters?

Are window blinds closed at night?

Visitors

Is there a well organised reception area with a secure

entrance?

Are visitors encouraged to use the main door and is this

clearly signposted, both from the gates and from the

car park?

If doors are left open, for example in warm weather, are

theykept under observation?

Are visitors given badges or visitors’ passes and escorted

totheir destination?

Do staff challenge strangers not wearing badges/passes

whomthey see in the building and, if necessary, ask for

identification?

Are your staff able to monitor and log the arrival and

departureof visitors?

YESNO

Are members of the public restricted to the relevant part of

thebuilding?

Are rooms such as toilets checked at the end of each day,

toensure no-one is hiding?

Are staff aware of the need to look after personal property?

Key administration

Do you have a policy for the administration of keys,

both during and outside working hours?

Is a register of keys kept for booking in and out?

Personal safety

Have arrangements been made for the safety of staff

who work alone, including providing a telephone in

remote locations?

Have risk assessments been done to identify problem

locations both around the school site and off site?

Have the Council’s guidelines been made available to

staff who may encounter violent situations while at work?

Surveillance

Are neighbours encouraged to keep their eyes and ears

openfor criminal/suspicious behaviour, and to report their

concerns?

Is the external lighting adequate to make people feel safe

andto allow them to see what is going on?

Can the neighbours see what is going on at the site without

theirview being obscured by hedges?

Are there areas of school that do not benefit from being

overlookedby neighbours?

Have you considered protecting or eliminating recessed

doorways, concealed yards, planted areas or other features

which can give cover to intruders?

YESNO

Maintenance

Is a daily check made of the building perimeter and site to

ensure that any visible damage is immediately reported

and repaired asnecessary?

Is graffiti removed immediately?

Are locks, catches, bolts, handles checked and maintained

regularly?

Cash

Whenever possible, do you avoid keeping cash on the

premises overnight?

Is cash counted out of sight?

Are staff aware they should never leave cash unattended?

Valuable equipment (see Note 1; Security of ICT Equipment)

Is valuable equipment placed into lockable storerooms when

the building closes?

Are such storerooms alarmed, otherwise physically secure

and with no window/roof lights?

Are all other rooms containing valuable equipment protected

by intruder alarm movement detectors?

Is the alarm system covering vulnerable rooms (stores,

offices,IT rooms) confirmed technology?

Property marking

Is valuable equipment visibly and permanently marked with

the post code?

Is publicity (ie notices) given to the fact that equipment is

so marked?

Intruder alarm system

Before setting the system, do you check that protected

doorsand windows are properly closed?

Do you check that other devices, such as detectors are

clear of obstacles?

YESNO

When entering the building, are the agreed procedures

followed and the alarm switched off immediately?

Do you know your alarm code?

Is the alarm operated solely by persons who have been

properly briefed?

Are regular maintenance checks carried out by the

Alarm Company?

Are all incidents/visits recorded in a record book?

Is Police response cover in place?

Does the central monitoring station have up-to-date

details of keyholders?

Staff involvement

Do you encourage staff to offer suggestions about good

practice concerning safety and security?

Do you encourage pride and responsibility in your school?

If someone becomes a victim, do you offer practical

assistance and adopt a caring attitude?

If incidents do occur, do you inform your staff?

Community responsibility

Is there a Neighbourhood Watch group where your

establishment is situated?

Is there a Youth Action Group?

Do you know who your local Police Liaison Officer is?

Do you consult with your P.T.A. on security matters?

Do you seek the co-operation of parents in

preventing crime within or around the site?

Do you seek the co-operation of young people/pupils/

students in preventing crime within or around the site?

If the answer to any of the questions is No, then remedial action should be taken to modify the risk.

Autumn 2008