| Synopsis: |
This generic risk assessment examines the hazards, risks and control measures relating to fighting fires in places of lawful detention (eg prisons, courts, police cells, and secure children homes etc). A major problem is restricted access: all places of lawful detention have, by design, restricted access and egress which may pose a number of difficulties to personnel when attempting to deal with fire and rescue situations. These include: limited choice of approach to the incident; restricted appliance movements and rendezvous points; difficulty and delay in accessing the scene of operations; difficulty in maintaining a safe access to and egress from the scene of operations; secure and restricted working environment where large amounts of equipment may have to be carried to the scene of operations. There is also the behaviour and possible hostilities from detainees to be considered: when dealing with fire incidents within the confines of a prison, or other places of lawful detention, the behaviour from detainees can be unpredictable and lead to hostilities against fire and rescue service personnel.Security gates and doors pose further problems and communication may also be difficult. |