SIA CCTV Health & Safety 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a fire risk assessment in a workplace?
- To identify fire hazards and evaluate the risk to people in the building (Correct answer)
- To calculate the potential cost of fire damage to equipment and property
- To determine how quickly the fire brigade will respond to an alarm
- To establish the age and condition of fire suppression systems
Correct answer: To identify fire hazards and evaluate the risk to people in the building
A fire risk assessment primarily aims to identify fire hazards and evaluate the risk to people so that appropriate preventive and protective measures can be put in place.
Question 2: In the event of a fire alarm activating in a CCTV control room, what should the operator do FIRST?
- Continue monitoring screens to try to identify the source of the fire
- Call the police to report a potential fire
- Follow the building's fire evacuation procedure immediately (Correct answer)
- Shut down all CCTV recording equipment before leaving
Correct answer: Follow the building's fire evacuation procedure immediately
Personal safety takes absolute priority; the operator must follow the building's fire evacuation procedure immediately upon hearing the alarm.
Question 3: What does the 'fire triangle' concept refer to?
- The three fire exits required in all commercial premises by law
- The three elements needed to sustain a fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen (Correct answer)
- The triangular search pattern used by fire crews inside a building
- The three categories of fire extinguisher approved for commercial use in the UK
Correct answer: The three elements needed to sustain a fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen
The fire triangle represents the three elements required to sustain a fire — fuel, heat, and oxygen — and removing any one of them will extinguish the fire.
Question 4: Which colour fire extinguisher is safe and appropriate for use on a fire involving live electrical equipment in the UK?
- Red (water)
- Cream (foam)
- Black (CO2) (Correct answer)
- Blue (dry powder)
Correct answer: Black (CO2)
CO2 (black) extinguishers are safe for electrical fires because carbon dioxide does not conduct electricity and leaves no damaging residue on equipment.
Question 5: What is a 'muster point' (also called an assembly point)?
- A secure room where staff shelter during a security lockdown
- A designated safe area outside a building where staff assemble after evacuation (Correct answer)
- A location inside the building where fire extinguishers are stored
- The control room used to coordinate emergency management operations
Correct answer: A designated safe area outside a building where staff assemble after evacuation
A muster point is the pre-designated safe area outside the building where all staff gather after evacuation so a roll call can be taken to account for everyone.
Question 6: If a CCTV operator observes a fire breaking out on camera within the premises, what is the most appropriate immediate action?
- Leave the control room immediately to investigate the situation at close range
- Alert the control room supervisor immediately and use CCTV to support the evacuation (Correct answer)
- Wait to confirm it is definitely a real fire before taking any action
- Contact the building's maintenance team to deal with the fire
Correct answer: Alert the control room supervisor immediately and use CCTV to support the evacuation
Operators should immediately alert their supervisor and use their CCTV position to guide evacuees and provide real-time information to responders.
Question 7: Who is legally responsible for ensuring that fire evacuation drills are carried out in a workplace?
- Individual employees who are designated fire wardens
- The local fire and rescue service
- The employer or building management (Correct answer)
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Correct answer: The employer or building management
It is the legal responsibility of the employer or building management to arrange and conduct regular fire evacuation drills to ensure all occupants know what to do.
SIA CCTV Health & Safety 2
What is the primary purpose of a fire risk assessment in a workplace?