The role of the industrial firefighter

In a crisis situation, it is essential to be able to safely evacuate the people present on a site. The industrial firefighter, also known as a second intervention team member (ESI), is responsible for supporting the first intervention team member during the early stages of a fire while waiting for emergency services to arrive. They use additional firefighting equipment (fire hose reels, fire hoses, etc.)

This task is crucial because evacuation stakeholders must be competent and properly trained. The goal is to prevent a disaster from occurring or escalating.

In this article, we will address the following points:

• What is an industrial firefighter and what is their role?

• What skills are required to become an industrial firefighter?

• Which organizations provide industrial firefighter training?

• When should the Second Intervention Team Member training be renewed?

• What is the validity period of industrial firefighter training?

• What are the regulations for a second intervention team member?

• How many industrial firefighters are required?

What is an industrial firefighter and what is their role?

The second intervention team member (ESI), or industrial firefighter, is a volunteer employee who intervenes following the action of the first intervention team. They have numerous responsibilities. Indeed, the second intervention team member is trained in rescue and fire extinguishing, but they must also protect and help the people present on site.

The industrial firefighter is also called upon to handle fires, and for this purpose they have access to numerous resources. These resources include fire extinguishers, fire hoses, foam generators, dry risers, and any other tools the company provides to combat all types of fire risk. Their objective is to act to prevent the spread of fire, since the industrial firefighter is able to operate the firefighting equipment (fire extinguishers, fire hoses, etc.) made available to them. We describe these in another safety article.

The number of industrial firefighters and the equipment provided are determined by the company manager based on previously assessed risks.

What skills are required to become an industrial firefighter?

It is essential for a second intervention team member to be able to remain calm and composed during a crisis period that can occur at the scene of a fire.

They must avoid spreading panic so as not to worsen the situation, and must make decisions regarding stressful and anxiety-inducing situations. As such, they must have a strong sense of responsibility and be a good communicator.

Which organizations provide industrial firefighter training?

Today, in France and across its regions, numerous organizations provide industrial firefighter (ESI) training. This second intervention team member training applies to companies with a high fire risk. ESIs and EPIs (first intervention team members) can be specifically trained for fire response.

Our company CountAct can help you train industrial firefighters (ESI) in Grenoble, Lyon, Dijon, and Paris. We can also train all of your company's safety personnel, whether in a business or a facility open to the public. Feel free to request a quote 🙂

Other organizations also offer ESI training in regions where CountAct is not present; we have partnerships in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, in the PACA region, and elsewhere. Feel free to send us an email at: countact@countact.fr, and we can recommend organizations to you or help guide you in your search for a training provider or training center for your guide files, rear guides, first aid workers (SST), first intervention team members (EPI), and ESIs.

When should the Second Intervention Team Member training be renewed? And what is the validity period of industrial firefighter training?

Just like the EPI, the renewal of industrial firefighter training is structured and regulated in France. Indeed, the regulations of the French Labor Code and the recommendations of the INRS are clear regarding the steps to follow. These safety personnel are required to undergo a minimum of 14 hours of in-person training if the company does not have self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); otherwise, this industrial firefighter training lasts 21 hours. Training renewal must take place every year. To validate this training, a certificate is issued if the training organization deems that the person has the necessary skills to become an industrial firefighter (ESI).

As such, at CountAct, we also recommend truly effective management of your safety personnel (which CountAct addresses). It is important to understand the risks within a company in order to anticipate them. The main goal is to guarantee the safety of all staff.

What are the regulations for an industrial firefighter? And how many Second Intervention Team Members are required?

Today, any company whose premises are occupied by more than 50 people is required to have employees trained in first aid procedures, which includes Second Intervention Team Members.

As such, the employer is required to have the necessary emergency personnel available. This is all to ensure the safety of all employees during a crisis situation.

Regarding the question of how many industrial firefighters are required: it is recommended to have 5 Second Intervention Team Members present at all times on site. However, CountAct recommends having as many industrial firefighters as possible to ensure the most effective response possible in the event of a fire. This recommendation is particularly relevant given current challenges in managing occupancy flow (remote work, open-space layouts, etc.). CountAct offers to help you optimize the management of your safety personnel. We also allow you to access important accident information in real time, helping you gain efficiency and speed. Feel free to reach out to us; we will support you in developing your internal safety strategy.

The other evacuation stakeholders…

You now know what an industrial firefighter is, what the second intervention team member training involves, and the various responsibilities they have during an emergency evacuation. We invite you to read our article on safety stakeholders and on the first intervention team member if you haven't already. These articles will help you deepen your understanding of the important roles involved in a crisis situation.

To discuss the second intervention team member further, or any other safety topic, get in touch with CountAct!