Meter-high flames, thick clouds of smoke over the capital – the fire in a Berlin high-rise building shocked residents and emergency services. While the cause is still being investigated, another problem has long been known and is widespread: missing or inadequate fire safety in companies.

Since most people find it difficult to imagine a fire in their company, protective measures are often circumvented out of ignorance or carelessness. However, statistics show that a major fire, especially in manufacturing companies, often leads to insolvency immediately or shortly after the incident. This article reveals how carelessly many companies deal with the issue, which weaknesses are particularly common and which measures can be a matter of life and death in an emergency.

Weaknesses in practice: when fire safety becomes a secondary concern

Even though building regulations, workplace regulations and various DIN standards provide clear guidelines, the reality in many companies is quite different. Fire safety is often implemented formally – everything looks fine on paper, but in daily practice there are repeated deviations. This is risky and can have serious consequences in an emergency.

Despite clear regulations, escape and rescue routes are often inadequately marked or even blocked. A major reason for this is a lack of knowledge. Although structural measures such as fire walls, fire alarm systems and fire doors are in place, their effectiveness is quickly negated if they are used incorrectly.

In practice, fire doors are often held open with wooden wedges or other objects, which promotes the rapid spread of smoke and fire in the event of a fire. Similarly, there are often openings in fire walls that are not subsequently closed properly in accordance with fire safety regulations.

Invisible risks: how negligence exacerbates emergencies

In everyday operations, escape and rescue routes are often misused by storing pallets or other materials there. This can block them in an emergency. Fire extinguishers, which are used for short periods during welding or cutting work, for example, often do not end up back in their designated place and are difficult to find in the event of a fire.

Clear guidance is also often lacking: fire safety regulations and escape route plans are not displayed at all in many places, or are displayed in insufficient numbers. If people with limited knowledge of English work in the company, important information must be provided in several languages to ensure that everyone can act safely in an emergency.

Recognising the causes: between knowledge, culture and responsibility

Many problems in operational fire safety have their roots in a lack of communication and insufficient knowledge. Employees often do not know how wide escape and rescue routes must be or how to select and use extinguishing agents correctly. This uncertainty prevents them from reacting correctly in an emergency and leads to undesirable misconduct.

Effective fire safety begins with prevention in everyday life: if everyone involved knows the rules, acts attentively and knows what steps to take in an emergency, serious damage to people and businesses can be prevented. Regular training and instruction raise awareness and promote safe behaviour.

Practical measures: How to make fire safety effective in the workplace

Certain measures are essential to protect people and the business. Training as a fire safety and evacuation assistant is required by law. However, knowledge fades over time, which is why refresher courses are essential. Knowledge should be renewed and deepened at least every two to three years.

Equally important: regular evacuation drills for everyone. These help to memorise procedures and ensure that in an emergency, everyone evacuates immediately without wasting time on trivialities. The drills should be realistic and, ideally, unannounced.

Another key factor is the constant monitoring of fire safety measures in everyday life. Blocked escape and rescue routes or incorrectly positioned fire extinguishers should be removed immediately and correct behaviour actively promoted. Employees should also be praised for acting safely.

Securing the future: how consistent fire safety strengthens operations

Those who implement fire safety not only on paper but also in everyday life create a safe and reliable working environment. A strong safety culture raises awareness of risks and ensures that lives are saved and damage is minimised in an emergency.

Constant monitoring, practical exercises and active responsibility ensure that companies not only comply with regulations but also benefit from them: motivation increases and confidence in their own protective measures grows. In this way, fire safety becomes part of the corporate culture and contributes to long-term success.

About Stefan Ganzke and WandelWerker Consulting GmbH:

Stefan Ganzke is the founder and managing director of WandelWerker Consulting GmbH, together with Anna Ganzke. Together with their team, the two support medium-sized companies and corporations in continuously and sustainably reducing workplace accidents and developing a practical occupational safety organisation.