Fire protection assistants
Fire safety assistants in the company: Importance, training and legislation
Fire safety assistants: Your general conditions
according to the Labour Protection Act
Fire safety assistants are a central component of the company's organisational fire protection. They help to recognise fires as early as possible, initiate initial measures and, above all, get people out of the building safely. It's not about fighting a full-blown fire - it's about being able to Formation phase to act correctly, alert the right people and secure escape and rescue routes. This is precisely why the role of fire safety assistants is not „freely selectable“, but is indirectly and directly anchored in several regulations.
For the legal categorisation, it is above all the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG), which Workplace regulations (ASR A2.2) and the requirements of the DGUV relevant. These regulations are interlinked: the ArbSchG describes the basic obligations of the employer (assessment, documentation, organisation), the ASR specifies requirements in workplaces and the DGUV provides practical guidelines for instruction and qualification. Those who implement these framework conditions properly reduce risks, increase safety in the event of an emergency and can prove to authorities, insurance companies and internal audits that fire safety in the company is organised in a structured manner.
General conditions for fire safety assistants according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Occupational Health and Safety Act forms the basis for ensuring that fire safety in the company is not just „recommended“, but understood as part of the general occupational health and safety organisation. For fire safety assistants, this means that their appointment, number and training are not the result of a gut feeling, but of what the employer must systematically check and determine as part of his duties. The ArbSchG requires that hazards in the workplace are recognised, that specific protective measures are derived from this and that these measures actually work in the company.
When it comes to fire safety in particular, practice is crucial: a plan in a folder is not enough if nobody is responsible in an emergency or procedures are unclear. The Occupational Health and Safety Act therefore indirectly ensures that companies define responsibilities, inform employees and organise emergency measures in such a way that they can be realistically implemented on a day-to-day basis. Fire safety assistants are an important component of this because they form the interface between the „paperwork“ and actual behaviour in an emergency. In many companies, this role complements the work of a Fire safety officer, especially when it comes to organisation, responsibilities and recurring processes.
§ 5 ArbSchG: Risk assessment (assessment of working conditions)
Section 5 requires the employer to Assessment of working conditions. This concerns the design and furnishing of workplaces as well as Physical, chemical and biological effects. According to safety and fire hazards Machines and systems, equipment and working materials must also be assessed according to the hazard. This is a crucial point for operational fire protection because the risk assessment is the basis for determining which risks can realistically occur in the company and how quickly a fire could develop.
In practice, this includes, for example, the question of where ignition sources can arise, what fire loads are present, how escape routes are organised and whether certain areas (e.g. warehouse, workshop, technical rooms) have an increased risk. This determines how many fire safety assistants are required, where they need to be „covered“ in the building and what content is particularly important in the training.
At the same time, the risk assessment helps to set priorities: In some companies, evacuation is the main issue, in others the safe use of fire extinguishing equipment or the prevention of smoke and panic situations is particularly relevant. The better § 5 is implemented, the better the fire protection organisation in the company can be justified and optimised - and it is precisely this logic that is explained in the glossary. "Fire protection assistants“ compactly brought together.
§ 6 ArbSchG: Documentation (proof & regular inspection)
Clause 6 expressly requires a Documentation of the risk assessment as well as the conditions set by the employer Occupational safety measures. This also includes documented, Regular checks. Especially dangers with Personal injury (accidents resulting in injury or death) must be recorded and reported. This is particularly important for fire safety assistants because fire safety in the company must not only be planned, but also organised in a verifiable and sustainable manner.
In practice, documentation means that it must be possible to trace which risks have been assessed, which measures have been derived from them and how the effectiveness of these measures is checked. This also includes training certificates, internal instructions, organisational specifications and - depending on the company - records of exercises or inspections.
Regular checks are therefore so relevant, because companies change: Staff changes, new machines, conversions or modified work processes can quickly shift the initial situation. Good documentation ensures that those responsible can recognise at any time whether the Fire protection organisation still fits or needs to be adapted. If you need a specific assessment for your company, the quickest way is to send a brief enquiry via Contact us.
§ 10 ArbSchG: Tasks, designation and training
Clause 10 (in particular paragraph 2) refers to the organisation of measures to First aid, Firefighting and Evacuation. In order to be able to implement these measures in an organised and efficient manner, designated persons - including Fire protection assistants - are trained accordingly. The aim is not to improvise in an emergency, but to have clear procedures in place: Raising the alarm, initiating initial measures, supporting the evacuation and handing over to the emergency services.
For fire safety assistants, this means that they must know how to protect themselves, how to correctly assess incipient fires and when it is imperative to retreat. They must also know evacuation routes, recognise typical sources of error in the company (e.g. blocked escape routes) and be able to communicate calmly in an emergency.
Follow-up training are necessary at regular intervals because knowledge is quickly lost without practice and because operational conditions can change. Routine is crucial, especially in the case of rare incidents such as fires: if you only know procedures in theory, you will not be able to react quickly in the event of a fire. Often too slow or unsure in an emergency.
Legal situation according to ASR A2.2 on the fire safety assistant obligation
The ASR A2.2 has regulated how many fire safety assistants should be trained in the company since 2012. The following applies as a guideline: For companies with 20 or more employees at least 5 % of the workforce to be trained as fire safety assistants. It is important that this quota is understood as a minimum value - not as a „perfect solution“ for every company. This is because the ASR deliberately leaves room for individual assessment: if the risk assessment reveals a higher requirement, the number must be determined appropriately for each company.
In practice, factors such as building size, floors, shift operation, public traffic, storage areas or special fire loads play a role. In addition, it is up to the employer to designate more people to cover failures and ensure coverage in the building. A named designation is not necessarily the key point; the decisive factor is that enough trained persons are actually available on a day-to-day basis.
The question of which fire safety assistants should receive refresher training and how often is also part of realistic planning: when teams change, new employees join or work areas change, the organisation must be updated. Anyone looking for a detailed categorisation can find it in the article "Fire safety assistants in the company“.
Fire safety assistant training according to DGUV (instruction & qualification)
The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) requires new employees to complete a Initial instruction on the most important fire safety aspects in the company. In addition, information for all employees is usually once a year required. These briefings are important because fire safety is not just the responsibility of individual helpers: the better informed the entire workforce is, the faster and more orderly an evacuation will be and the lower the risk of misbehaviour in an emergency.
Fire safety assistants are also explicitly designated and undergo training in Theory and practice. They should operate fire extinguishing equipment safely, correctly assess incipient fires and consistently avoid endangering themselves. This also includes regularly practising an orderly escape in the event of a fire so that procedures do not just exist on paper. Experienced specialist personnel are responsible for instructing fire safety and evacuation assistants in their tasks so that the content is correctly communicated and practised.
If you want to set up the training properly in organisational terms (including responsibilities and proofs) Contact us the direct entry.
Selection of suitable employees for fire safety assistant training
Suitable employees for fire safety assistant training are firmly integrated into the company, know the premises and are on site as regularly as possible. Full-time employees are often particularly suitable because they are reliably available on a day-to-day basis and are familiar with typical company processes. It is ideal if employees take on the task voluntarily and continue their training independently between courses - this increases confidence and strengthens the safety culture in the company.
Important personal requirements are Sense of responsibility, Communication skills and a calm head in an emergency. Fire safety assistants must be able to act clearly and give clear instructions in stressful situations without causing panic. Temporary staff, part-time employees, pure substitutes, people who mainly work from home or field staff are often not suitable because they are not reliably on site in an emergency. Physical or health restrictions must also be taken into account, as fire safety assistants are supposed to provide active support in an emergency - for example during evacuation or when handling fire extinguishing equipment.
In many companies, coordination with a Fire safety officer to dovetail selection, organisation and documentation.
Repetition, practical factors and further content
Fire safety assistants must refresh their training at suitable intervals in order to maintain their knowledge and confidence. An interval of three to five years, as long as the general conditions in the company do not change. In practice, however, earlier refresher courses are often useful or necessary - for example in the case of new materials, changed production processes, conversions, relocations, team changes or the replacement of fire extinguishing technology. It is crucial that fire safety assistants are always familiar with current risks, premises and technical innovations and that procedures are in place in the event of an emergency.
The minimum quota of 5 % should also be regularly checked against reality: Holidays, illness, training, shift patterns and staff turnover all influence whether there are really enough trained people available in an emergency. Particularly in larger properties or where there is an increased risk, it often makes sense to train more than the minimum and distribute responsibilities so that several areas are covered at the same time. If you would like to find out more, you can find the detailed guide directly in the article "Fire safety assistants in the company“. For specific questions or support Contact us the fastest way.
Contact us for your next project!
Fire safety assistants - Frequently asked questions
Fire safety assistants fight fires as soon as they start, alert the emergency services, instruct the fire brigade and help with the evacuation of people. They check escape routes and fire safety equipment, carry out alarm drills and support the company's fire safety organisation.
According to the Workplace Directive (ASR 2.2), at least five per cent of employees should be trained as fire safety assistants. A larger number may be required in the event of an increased fire risk or special operating conditions.
Employees who have been with the company for a long time and are regularly present, ideally full-time, are suitable. They should be responsible, communicative and remain calm even in stressful situations. Temporary staff, part-time employees, home office or field staff and people with health problems are not suitable.
The training includes at least two theoretical lessons of 45 minutes each and practical training of five to ten minutes per participant. The content includes the basics of fire protection, operational organisation, fire hazards, escape routes, behaviour in the event of a fire and the practical use of fire extinguishing equipment.
As a rule, training must be repeated every three to five years. In the event of operational changes, new hazards or team changes, the training should be refreshed earlier in order to ensure operational readiness and expertise at all times.