Fires pose a significant threat to every company. In addition to the obvious dangers to human life, fires often lead to extensive damage to property and business interruptions that can threaten a company's existence. Against this background, the role of the fire safety officer has become increasingly important in recent years.
The task of the fire safety officer goes far beyond the mere monitoring of fire safety regulations. They must adopt a holistic perspective in order to identify potential risks and raise awareness of fire safety among the workforce, making efficient fire safety not just a technical or administrative task, but a key component of corporate safety.
Legal basis and appointment of a fire safety officer
The appointment of a fire safety officer - as an internal or external person - is mandatory in many manufacturing companies in Germany due to the requirements of the respective fire safety concept. This applies in particular to companies that have an increased fire risk due to their type of operation or size. In addition, commissioning is also relevant for special buildings (e.g. hospitals, retail outlets), but is not the subject of this article. The legal basis for this is diverse and includes both nationally applicable regulations and specific regulations of the federal states.
The respective fire protection concept is central for the fire safety officer: one of the main tasks here is to monitor and work towards the implementation of the specifications from the fire protection concept. Other sources of information include DGUV Information 205-003, p. 14 ff. [1] and the Technical Rule for Workplaces ASR A2.2 [2], which recommends the appointment of a fire safety officer, particularly for companies with a high fire risk. In addition, the state building regulations also contain corresponding provisions, which may vary from state to state.
A fire safety officer must have in-depth training, which is demonstrated by special training courses and certificates. This training is necessary in order to meet the diverse requirements of fire protection. In addition to technical knowledge, the training also imparts legal knowledge and the ability to organize and coordinate fire protection measures in the company.
Tasks: Prevention, control and training
The responsibilities of a fire safety officer are extensive and require a high level of expertise and organizational skills. Prevention is at the heart of their work. This means that they identify potential fire hazards at an early stage and - in close consultation with the business owner, who is ultimately responsible for implementing the relevant measures - recommend ways to minimize or completely eliminate them.
Advising the business owner on the need for action and its priority is a core task. Preventive measures include the creation and updating of fire safety regulations that are adapted to the specific requirements of the respective company. These fire safety regulations include keeping escape and rescue routes clear at all times, providing and checking the regular maintenance of fire extinguishers and planning evacuation drills. In addition, the fire safety officer monitors compliance with legal requirements.
Another key aspect of the fire safety officer's work is the training of employees. The effects of a fire can only be minimized if all employees act correctly in an emergency. Training must therefore be carried out regularly and adapted to the current conditions in the company. The fire safety officer acts as a communicator who conveys complex issues (e.g. causes of fire, correct behavior in the event of a fire) in an understandable way and ensures that the knowledge remains present in the workforce.
Internal and external cooperation: networking and communication
The role of the fire safety officer requires close cooperation with various internal and external stakeholders. Internally, they are in constant contact with the company management, the safety officers and the individual departments to ensure that fire safety is integrated into operational processes. This cooperation is essential, as fire protection measures often have to be coordinated with other safety precautions and operational processes. At this point, good cooperation with the occupational safety specialist is also important.
Externally, the fire safety officer works together with authorities, insurance companies and external specialist companies. Cooperation with the local fire department, which can carry out fire inspections and drills, is particularly important. Good cooperation with the fire department can make a decisive contribution to minimizing damage and saving lives in the event of a fire.
The business owner remains responsible for fire safety, not the fire safety officer. However, the fire safety officer provides support by carefully documenting information relevant to fire safety. This documentation is crucial for securing claims against insurance companies in the event of damage. In addition, complete and active documentation of fire protection can lead to lower insurance premiums in the long term, as it improves the company's risk management. Regular communication with insurance companies is therefore an important part of a comprehensive fire protection strategy.
From changes in technology to legal innovations
The work of a fire safety officer is characterized by continuous challenges of both a technical and organizational nature. One major challenge is to keep pace with the rapid developments in fire protection technology. Modern fire protection systems are becoming increasingly complex and require specialist knowledge.
The fire safety officer advises the company and must always be informed about the latest legal developments. As laws and regulations change regularly, they help to ensure that legal requirements are complied with. Continuous training is also essential here.
Another issue is raising awareness among the workforce. Despite regular training, it is often a challenge to anchor fire safety awareness in the minds of employees. Creativity and pedagogical skills are required here in order to repeatedly raise awareness of the topic and motivate employees to actively participate in fire safety.
The future of fire safety: New challenges
Another trend that will influence the work of fire safety officers is climate change. Increasing periods of heat and drought are increasing the risk of fire in many regions, which places new demands on operational fire protection. Companies must adapt their fire protection concepts (or have them adapted) to these changing conditions in order to remain safe in the future.
Specific fire protection challenges in electroplating plants
Due to the processing of chemicals and the high energy density in their processes, electroplating companies place special demands on fire protection. Depending on the process, different hazardous substances are used. The combination of electrical equipment, flammable hazardous substances and possible explosion hazards requires specific measures to prevent fires and their spread. Important challenges and solutions are as follows:
Sources of danger in electroplating plants
Various ignition sources play a role in these plants:
- Flammable hazardous substances such as various hydrocarbon mixtures in cleaners, isopropanol in brighteners or sodium dithionite in waste water treatment [3]
- Oxidizing process solutions with chromium trioxide or concentrated nitric acid can accelerate fires. Special care must be taken with hazardous substances with the H-phrase H272 ("May intensify fire; oxidizer") [3].
- Electrical components, especially fire hazard due to short circuits or overloads caused by faulty connections [4]
Preventive measures
Specific safety precautions are necessary to minimize the risk of fire:
- Effective extraction reduces the risk of fire and explosion from released hydrogen. It must be specially designed for flammable gases such as hydrogen or vapors of flammable liquids in order to meet the requirements in potentially explosive atmospheres [1]. If it is not possible to safely prevent the formation of explosive mixtures, the operator must prepare an explosion protection document. If, for example, the electroplating process baths and the extraction system were procured separately, the operator must check whether hazardous mixtures can arise in accordance with DIN EN 17059.
- Regular inspection of electrical contact points to prevent overheating
Special risk factors
Further risks arise from the combination of:
- Fresh air supply through extraction systems, which can accelerate fires
- Accumulations of hydrogen during processes such as electrolysis, which can occur due to malfunctions in the extraction system and form hazardous explosive mixtures
Organizational protective measures
In addition to technical precautions, organization is also a key factor for effective fire protection:
- Regular inspections to compare the target (fire protection concept) and actual situation
- Employee training and regular audits to prevent risks and increase safety awareness
This combination of structural, technical and organizational measures can significantly reduce the risk of fire in electroplating companies.
SOURCES
[1] DGUV Information 205-003, Tasks, qualification, training and appointment of fire safety officers, December 2020, also: https://publikationen.dguv.de/widgets/pdf/download/article/3872
[2] Technical rule for workplaces ASR A2.2, baua, May 2018, last amended GMBl 2022, p. 247, also: www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Regelwerk/ASR/ASR[3]DGUV Information 209-009, Electroplating, November 2019, also: https://publikationen.dguv.de/widgets/pdf/download/article/317
[4] DGUV Rule 109-602, Electroplating sector, October 2017, also: www.bghm.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Arbeitsschuetzer/Gesetze_Vorschriften/Regeln/109-602.pdf
