Taking company emergency response measures (BHV)
If you run a company, you have to provide a safe (working) environment for your employees and visitors. You must take company emergency response measures (bedrijfshulpverlening, BHV), and you must designate 1 or more company emergency response officers (BHV'ers).
What is a company emergency response officer (BHV'er)?
An emergency response officer is an employee of your company who is trained to help in case of emergency, such as aworkplace or industrial accident, or a disaster. They will help employees, customers, or visitors to safety and call the emergency services. An emergency response officer can help extinguish a small fire and can provide first aid, for example when someone becomes injured or unwell.
How many emergency response officers do you need?
You must ensure that there are always sufficient emergency response officers available, even in case of illness or holidays. There is no fixed number. With a risk assessment and evaluation (RI&E) you can determine how many emergency response officers you need. The number of employees and the average number of visitors are especially important factors. In the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands’ (SER) Dutch-language guide to company emergency response you can find several methods to determine how many first responders you need (pdf, Annex 9).
Training and equipment
You have to make sure that your emergency response officers are well trained and well equipped, this includes for instance safety vests, fire extinguishers, flashlights, and communication equipment. The RI&E determines which equipment and training your emergency response officers need. You have to reimburse costs for equipment and training (both inside and outside normal working hours). It is up to you to decide which training they will receive.
Emergency response plan and evacuation plan
An emergency response plan (company emergency plan) is not legally required, except if your company works with hazardous substances. However, to arrange your emergency response measures properly, it is important to have an emergency response plan. This plan details precisely how to act when there is an emergency.
If your company is required to have a fire-detection system or if you have a fire alarm control centre in your building, you must have a current evacuation plan, which describes how to evacuate safely.
Company emergency response on construction sites
On construction sites (including temporary sites), contractors and subcontractors must jointly provide the emergency response measures. Joint agreements relating to field of health and safety must be stated in the Health and Safety Plan. It is the responsibility of the person in charge of emergency response to make sure there is a sound emergency response plan. This plan must be in line with the Health and Safety Plan.
Please note: If 2 or 3 of your employees are working at a private individual’s premises, this is also considered a construction site. However, a Health and Safety Plan is not required in this situation.