How many responders do you actually need?

BHV-Weesp

· Organisation · 3 min read

A frequently asked question: how many emergency responders do I actually need to train? The law gives no hard figure, and that often causes confusion. In this article we give you a practical guide to working out the right number.

No fixed figure, but there is a method

The Working Conditions Act requires you to have enough responders, but leaves the number to your own risk inventory. That makes sense, because a small office has different risks from a factory or a care institution. You determine the number based on the nature of the work, the number of people present and the layout of the building.

A practical rule of thumb

Many organisations use at least one trained responder per roughly 50 people present. What matters is that there are enough responders at every moment people are present — so allow for holidays, sickness, part-time work and shifts. In practice you therefore train more people than the minimum, so you are never left short.

• Count the maximum number of people present at the same time
• Allow for several floors or locations
• Plan for absence: train a generous margin
• Record your reasoning in the risk inventory

Elevated risk? More responders

Do you work with machinery, hazardous substances, or with people who cannot evacuate independently? Then the risks are higher and you need more, better trained responders. Tailored training is a better fit than a standard course in that case.

“Better one responder too many than one too few at the wrong moment.”

Working out the right number together

BHV-Weesp is happy to help you think through the number of responders that makes sense in your situation. We are based in Weesp and active across the wider region. Get in touch for advice with no obligation.

Help working out your emergency response setup? Get in touch with BHV-Weesp — we are happy to think along with you and work in Weesp and the surrounding area.