Fire protection assistants

Fire safety assistants in the company: Importance, training and legislation

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General conditions for fire safety assistants

according to the Labour Protection Act

Section five of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the employer to assess the working conditions. This concerns the design and furnishing of workplaces as well as physical, chemical and biological effects. After safety and fire hazards, machines and systems, equipment and working materials must also be assessed according to the hazard.
Clause six expressly requires documentation of the risk assessment and the occupational health and safety measures defined by the employer. This also includes documented, regular inspections. In particular, hazards involving personal injury (accidents resulting in injury or death) must be recorded and reported.
In Section Ten of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Article Two in particular refers to the tasks of fire safety and evacuation assistants. In order to be able to carry out first aid, firefighting and evacuation measures in an organised and efficient manner, the designated fire safety assistants must be trained accordingly. Follow-up training is required at regular intervals.
 

A person tests the fire resistance of a fire door with a torch, creating flames and charring. Wooden structures and trees can be seen in the background.
A large fire protection window is subjected to a fire resistance test in a laboratory. Flames and intense orange light are visible behind the glass, while cables and sensors from Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz monitor the window frame.
A white French fire door with large glass panes in a red brick wall, with arched windows above and dark green tiled cornices on both sides by Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz.
Five red fire extinguishers are mounted in a row on a green wooden wall, ideal for environments with fire-resistant windows or a fire-resistant door from Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz. Each extinguisher has a hose and white stickers with instructions and symbols on the front.
Large windows, possibly fire-resistant windows, are exposed to intense flames and heat, with the glass shattering and smoke rising from the left-hand side - an indication that a fire or a fire resistance test by Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz is in progress.
Close-up of a large stone pillar next to a fire door in a hallway with a beige tiled floor and yellow walls. The area behind the door, which was manufactured by Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz, is empty and brightly lit.
A person tests the fire resistance of a fire door with a torch, creating flames and charring. Wooden structures and trees can be seen in the background.
A large fire protection window is subjected to a fire resistance test in a laboratory. Flames and intense orange light are visible behind the glass, while cables and sensors from Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz monitor the window frame.
A white French fire door with large glass panes in a red brick wall, with arched windows above and dark green tiled cornices on both sides by Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz.
Five red fire extinguishers are mounted in a row on a green wooden wall, ideal for environments with fire-resistant windows or a fire-resistant door from Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz. Each extinguisher has a hose and white stickers with instructions and symbols on the front.
Large windows, possibly fire-resistant windows, are exposed to intense flames and heat, with the glass shattering and smoke rising from the left-hand side - an indication that a fire or a fire resistance test by Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz is in progress.
Close-up of a large stone pillar next to a fire door in a hallway with a beige tiled floor and yellow walls. The area behind the door, which was manufactured by Brandschutz Tischlerei Beelitz, is empty and brightly lit.

Legal situation according to the workplace directive on the fire safety assistant obligation

Since 2012, the Workplace Directive (ASR) 2.2 has regulated the percentage of fire safety assistants that must be trained in the company. For companies with 20 or more employees, this is five per cent. If more fire safety assistants are required according to the risk assessment, this must be assessed and determined individually for each company. In addition, it is up to the employer to decide whether to designate a larger number of employees for this purpose.
It is not mandatory to name the current fire safety assistants. ASR 2.2 is bureaucratically restrained in the details. What percentage of fire safety assistants does a company need? This can also be weighed up based on personal experience and expert recommendations from local fire brigades. However, it should be checked which fire safety assistants should receive refresher training and how often.
The aim of ASR 2.2 is to Protecting companies from economic damage and, to a much greater extent, the protection of employees from danger to life and limb. If there are enough well-trained fire safety and evacuation assistants, panic can be avoided in an emergency. In the past, such situations have often caused greater personal injury than the fire itself.

Fire safety assistant training according to DGUV

The German Social Accident Insurance (DUV) requires new employees to receive initial training on the most important aspects of fire safety in the company. In addition, all employees must be informed once a year. For example, fire protection equipment is explained in theory and evacuations are rehearsed.
Fire safety assistants are specifically designated and undergo fire safety assistant training in theory and practice. They should handle fire extinguishing equipment safely and avoid endangering themselves. The orderly escape of employees in the event of a fire must also be regularly rehearsed. Experienced specialist personnel are responsible for instructing the fire safety and evacuation assistants in their tasks.
There is no company-wide answer to the question of which training for fire safety assistants is valid for how long. If employees with completed fire service training work here, they do not have to undergo additional company training as fire safety assistants. If there is a high turnover of staff, training must take place more frequently.

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, if possible, are regularly on site as full-time employees. Ideally, they should take on the task voluntarily and continue their training independently between courses. A sense of responsibility, communication skills and a calm head in an emergency are important. Temporary staff, part-time workers, holiday replacements, home office or field staff and people with physical or health restrictions are not suitable. The aim is to be able to act quickly and reliably in an emergency and to strengthen safety within the company.

Recommended number of employees for fire protection and evacuation assistants

Five per cent of the company's employees are required to be fire safety assistants. This is the minimum requirement for companies with at least 20 employees. However, SMEs with fewer employees are also reliant on the training and practical experience of several first aiders. To be on the safe side, more than the prescribed number of specialists can share responsibility. Deviations from the recommendations are necessary if the fire risk in the company is higher than normal. In the event of an emergency, fire safety assistants must also fulfil the fire safety assistant duty in several places in commercial properties with a particularly large area. Disabled employees in inclusive companies also need more support. In the long term, the recommended percentage must also take into account the number of employees available in the event of holidays, illness, training or frequent staff changes. Fire safety assistants on fixed-term contracts may not be available long enough to act as fire safety first aiders. Such guideline values should be regularly reviewed and adjusted if necessary.

Procedure and content of fire safety assistant training

Fire safety assistant training takes place as an open course for several companies or individually at your own location. The duration depends on the size of the group and consists of at least two theoretical lessons of 45 minutes each and a practical training session of five to ten minutes per participant. The theoretical part covers the basics of fire safety, company organisation, fire hazards, escape routes and the correct behaviour in an emergency. The practical training covers the use of fire extinguishing equipment, tactical procedures and exercises on simulation equipment in order to be prepared for real crisis situations. Site-specific training also takes into account special operational risks and circumstances.

Qualification and further training of fire safety assistants

Fire safety assistants usually acquire their qualification through special company training that prepares them for their tasks as fire safety and evacuation assistants. However, there are different levels of expertise: university graduates in the field of fire safety have in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge, but usually work externally and often require further training on the operational conditions for use in the company. Members of plant or professional fire brigades as well as occupational safety specialists also have extensive knowledge and can take on internal training courses or intervene in a coordinating capacity in the event of danger.

In the event of an emergency, certified company fire safety assistants ensure the escape organisation, operate fire extinguishing equipment and provide assistance in the initial stages of a fire. The validity of their certificates is relevant for insurance companies and authorities. The training should be refreshed at least once a year - the less previous knowledge there is, the more frequently further training is required. Renewed training is mandatory at the latest when new regulations are introduced.

Legal requirements and intervals for repeating fire safety assistant training

By law, fire safety assistants must repeat their training every three to five years at the latest, unless the general conditions in the company change. Proof of regular training is important for insurance, audits and official requirements. If there are operational changes - such as new materials, changed production processes or transfers to other areas - the training needs to be refreshed earlier. Training must also be adapted and repeated in the event of changes in the team, new responsibilities or the replacement of fire extinguishing technology. The aim is to ensure that all fire safety assistants are always familiar with the current risks, premises and technical innovations so that they can act safely and competently in an emergency.

Special features and tasks of fire safety assistants on construction sites

Fire hazards and working conditions are constantly changing on construction sites, which is why fire safety assistants must always be informed about the latest fire extinguishing equipment and evacuation routes. The employer decides how often the training is repeated - refresher training is particularly necessary in the event of changes in construction progress or new hazards. Different requirements apply for stationary areas such as office containers or workshops than for changing assembly work, such as welding or painting. An increased number of trained fire safety assistants makes sense, as team compositions change frequently and replacements must be guaranteed in the event of absences. Monitoring personnel are particularly suitable as they recognise hazards at an early stage.

The tasks of the fire safety assistants range from regularly checking escape routes and fire safety equipment to carrying out alarm drills and instructing the fire brigade in the event of an emergency. They fight incipient fires, alert the emergency services and organise evacuation, paying particular attention to the rescue of disabled persons. Through regular training and practical exercises, fire safety assistants remain capable of acting on construction sites and ensure maximum safety for all employees.

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FAQ on fire safety assistants in the company

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