500 people attended the third specialist conference of the Austrian company fire departments with a specialist exhibition in Bergheim near Salzburg
Salzburg (OTS) – Over the course of two days, significant innovations, innovations and future challenges in relation to operational fire protection were discussed.
Every four years, the technical committee of the company fire brigades of the Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association (ÖBFV) invites you to a specialist conference in order to provide company firefighters with further training on current developments and to promote networking. In addition, a specialist exhibition with over 50 companies will take place as part of this conference. Due to the pandemic, the interval was extended this time by three years – the last specialist conference took place in 2017.
Thomas Docekal, chairman of the Austrian company fire brigade: “I see the conference as an important piece of the mosaic in the training of our members in preventive and defensive fire protection. It offers us the opportunity to look beyond our own federal state and strengthen the common network. We also have many exhibitors presenting their devices and services. The result was an exchange of ideas and knowledge between the Austrian company fire departments, because it is important to learn from each other and think of new ways – in this way we can ensure fire protection and hazard prevention in companies.
Why are company fire departments needed?
Fire Department President Robert Mayer: “Defensive fire protection cannot compensate for preventative fire protection. Company fire departments therefore play a central role in ensuring safety in a company or facility. The conference provided a perfect setting for further training, exchange and knowledge transfer. The high level of interest in the conference clearly shows that it is important to organize and hold an event in this format. As ÖBFV, it is therefore important and significant to get involved in this area. Thank you very much to everyone involved for their commitment.”
As part of a panel discussion, the opportunities of a company fire department for companies – also as an economic factor – were discussed. Docekal: “Depending on the economic situation, company fire departments are always a discussion factor in the executive suites. Its ever
necessary again to do persuasion work. If a company has already used its own fire department, then there is significantly more acceptance.”
Motivate management
“We have received feedback from some companies that the company fire department is an important support in the company because it ensures safety. The members of company fire brigades go through the company with different eyes. They are there when others get to safety. It’s like being a first responder after a medical emergency – the fire brigade members are first responders to fires and technical problems. They are familiar with the area, can intervene quickly, know the company’s priorities and are in close coordination with company management. All advantages that prevent a lot of damage and can keep the damage as low as possible in the event of an emergency.”
says Thomas Docekal, who is working with his technical committee to motivate more companies to set up company fire departments.
background information
There are 313 company fire departments in Austria. These are company facilities (industrial companies, hospitals, airports, shopping centers, prisons, etc.) and are mainly concerned with preventive measures to protect the business premises, employees, customers and to secure, for example, production and the company location. In many cases, a company fire brigade is required by the authorities, but it is also possible for a company to set up a company fire brigade on a voluntary basis. There are different types of members – from full-time staff to mixed forms to purely voluntary women and men. By founding a company fire brigade, they are represented by the respective state fire brigade association, and the members receive appropriate training.
Further photos of the event (“ÖBFV/Mathias Seyfert”) can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oebfv/albums/72177720317229216
Questions & Contact:
Austrian Federal Fire Brigade Association
BR Andreas Rieger, MA
Head of Communications Department
066488279831
andreas.rieger@feuerwehr.or.at
www.bundesfeuerwehrverband.at