Construction Fires: A Guide to Managing Liabilities
27-Jul-17
Any business planning to undertake a large construction project will need to give a good deal of thought to the type of insurance policy that they require. One of the most significant considerations for an insurance company when underwriting a large construction project, is the risk of fire. In 2012, the Fire Safety Advice Centre calculated that there were 11 fires on construction sites every day.[i] Construction fire can be a serious safety risk for personnel or others in the locality. Construction fires also have the potential to cause financial ruin for a company and it is vital to have plans in place to reduce the risk of a fire occurring and to mitigate any damage if a fire does happen. - Reduce the risk [ii] There are a number of documents available that highlight best practice for fire safety on construction sites. One of the most significant is the Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation. This is now in its 9th edition and some insurance companies require adherence to this in order to insure a large construction project. The Health and Safety Executive has also provided a document (HSG168) to deal in depth with the issue of construction fires and ways to reduce the risks. It will be important to study this document in depth before undertaking any construction work. The paper highlights a number of ways to reduce the risks, including (but not exclusively); · Identify the risks. Every fire needs a source of oxygen, a combustible material and an ignition source. Be aware of the sources of these three hazards and take steps to remove them where possible and to separate them from one another where not. · Reduce sources of ignitions. This may include banning smoking from all areas of the construction site, having detailed risk assessments in place for any hot work such as welding and ...
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