Fire Safety Officer

Appointment and duties

Fire hazards, occupant load, the type or size of an operation, regulatory requirements or risk assessments justify appointing a fire safety officer. The officer advises and supports management on all fire safety matters, prepares and maintains fire safety instructions, escape and rescue plans and fire brigade plans, monitors the operational readiness of fire protection equipment, controls hot work and impairments, and acts as the point of contact for fire authorities, the fire brigade and insurers.

Qualification and training

Training comprises at least 64 teaching units covering the theoretical fundamentals of structural, engineered and organisational fire protection together with practical extinguishing exercises. Duties, authority and powers of instruction are set out in a facility-specific job description, for which management must provide the necessary resources so the role can be exercised effectively.

Relevance for insurance

For property insurers, the existence and genuine effectiveness of a fire safety officer is a key criterion during a risk survey: the officer enforces permit procedures, training and self-inspection requirements in daily operations and is therefore the operational link between the fire safety management system and practice on the ground.