In-house emergency response officers (BHVs) take measures in dangerous situations to limit damage. Risks are made clear in the RI&E or RIE. According to the Working Conditions Act, the employer is responsible for good working conditions for its employees, so that their safety, health and well-being are not adversely affected.
Emergency response, working conditions and regulations
The Emergency Response Decree has been in force since 1994. This decree obliges the employer to organize the company emergency response.
At the end of 1999, the Working Conditions Act was radically revised. The elaboration of the statutory regulations, including in the field of in-house emergency services, is now included in the Working Conditions Decree and the Working Conditions Policy Rules. On the basis of this, an employer must, depending on the nature and size of the company or the number of visitors, designate one or more employees as company emergency response officers (BHV). These employees have the task of taking measures in a situation of danger to health or safety that limit the damage as much as possible. The employer is and remains responsible for emergency response and safety in the company.
With the introduction of the new Working Conditions Act in 2007, the so-called benchmarking factors have become particularly important. It is important that first responders are trained on the basis of the specific risks present within the organization. These specific risks become visible by performing a Risk Inventory and Evaluation (abbreviated RI&E or RIE).