In-house emergency response (BHV) - information for team members

In-house emergency response VU Amsterdam

• Evacuation warden

  After an alarm signal or call, you as an evacuation warden help ensure that the employees of the departments of the building (section) leave the building in a structured manner. You are part of the supporting building evacuation team of VU Amsterdam. 

  Education information evacuation wardens
  The basic education course for evacuation wardens consists of theory about alarms and evacuation, an exploration of the building and a short extinguishing instruction. The education course takes two hours and takes place at the VU Campus, at the BHV garage, on the campus site of the Transitorium building. Dutch language proficiency is required for this role. If you are interested, you can find information about signing up on the Dutch page.

  In-house emergency response allowance
  As an evacuation warden, you receive a yearly allowance. More information on this can be found on the page Allowances.

  Education information Basic Life Support
  Are you interested in acquiring life-saving skills? Sign up for the Basic Life Support course for free via bhvadministratie.amd@vu.nl.

• First Aid providers

  As a First Aid provider, you come into action after being called on in case of an accident, until the moment when (if necessary) the professional medical assistance can take over these tasks. Considering the outpost role of First Aid providers, it is important that they can react quickly to a call via a tracer (all First Aid providers carry a tracer with them). 

  In principle, VU Amsterdam only trains First Aid providers who work in a more high-risk setting, such as a laboratory or workshop. If you work in an office setting, then we consider whether a First Aid training is necessary or if a basic education course for evacuation wardens, possibly supplemented with Basic Life Support, is sufficient. In an office setting, a limited number of First Aid providers is needed.

  Education information First Aid providers
  The First Aid training follows the Orange Cross method. The education course consists of 20 hours of self study (E-learning), followed by 2 full days of education at VU, where the exam is woven into the lessons. The practical lessons deal with respiratory distress (trouble breathing), severe external bleeding, burns, eye damage, intoxication and resuscitation. After successfully completing the second education day you receive a recognized Orange Cross First Aid diploma.

  First Aid provider allowance
  As a First Aid provider, you receive a yearly allowance. More information on this can be found on the page Allowances.

• BHV+/VURIT (in-house emergency response with breathing air skills)

  As a member of BHV+/VURIT you are trained to be an in-house emergency response provider who can, after being called via a tracer (all BHV+/VURIT team members carry a tracer), extinguish a beginning fire, provide assistance in accidents with hazardous substances and evacuate the emergency section of a building.

  You are trained in wearing an air breathing apparatus. Plus you can, when asked, fulfil supporting and damage reducing tasks to ensure people's safety, and contribute to recovery of the operation after an emergency.

  Eligible employees for this role work in laboratories, research departments or in a technical setting. Your knowledge is an added value to BHV+/VURIT. Other members of BHV+/VURIT are, among others, employees who work continuous shifts, for whom this role is a mandatory part of their work.

  Education information BHV+/VURIT
  As a member of BHV+/VURIT, you are expected to be familiar with general theory on fire and emergencies, and with specific theory on the chemical, biological and technical materials present. In addition, you gain theoretical and practical knowledge about dealing with breathing air apparatuses in accident situations with fire and with hazardous substances, vapour and/or smoke. Wherever technical installations are present, adequate action of technicians is important. This education course includes resuscitation and AED training. The education course contains the following steps:

  1. Medical assessment by an occupational health physician of Health, Safety and Environment, once you have been approved:
  2. Basic BHV training course at an external training agency (two days spread over two weeks)
  3. Breathing air education course at the VU Campus (four full days including exam)

  After successfully completing the components above, you are ready to fulfil your role within BHV+/VURIT.

  Medical assessment BHV+/VURIT
  Depending on your age, you receive a call for a new medical assessment once every four years, once every two years or once every year, until the age of 65 years. After that, breathing air work is not an option anymore.

  BHV+/VURIT allowance
  As a BHV+/VURIT member, you receive a yearly allowance. More information on this can be found on the page Allowances.

• Signing up as an in-house emergency response team member

  In emergency situations, clear communication is crucial. Because of this, the vernacular language for the in-house emergency response team is Dutch, since the external emergency services operate in Dutch as well. Are you interested in contributing to the in-house emergency response? Speaking Dutch is a requirement. You can find the information on the Dutch web page.

• BHV course options for third parties related to VU Amsterdam

  The regular BHV courses are aimed at new and existing participants in the VU BHV organization. These participants have been registered as BHV members by the BHV administration and comply with the conditions described in the VU BHV policy. Read more on the page Company emergency organization.

  Custom work for third parties on campus

  In addition, in specific cases and under certain conditions, custom work is possible.

  In consultation, custom work for third parties on campus can be a solution, for example to give incidental education to employees, an evacuation course or a training course small extinguishers. This is the case if the third party is present daily on the VU campus (such as the hosts, study assoctiations, cafes and restaurants, small businesses) and contribute to the safety on the VU campus from that position.

  The following options are available:

  Course options

  • training course small extinguishers (1/4 day)
  • alarm and evacuation instructions (1/4 day)
  • general education BHV (1/4 day)
  • on-site practice: education, scenario, table top and evacuation drill (1/2 day)

  A combination of these courses is also possible.

  Depending on the size of the custom work, the approach and planning is discussed among the instructors and the third party. The condition is that the custom work cannot disrupt the regular practice planning and the work falls within regular office hours. For further information, contact bhvadministratie.amd@vu.nl.

  External courses

  If you wish to follow a First Aid course without participating in the in-house emergency response organization, there are the following options:

  • arrange it yourself via First Aid organization or
  • hire an external instructor yourself

  If campus-related third parties want to train their own in-house emergency response team, the HSE instructors can help finding and referring to an external party who can provide an appropriate emergency response education. The same goes for First Aid courses or First Aid instructors.

• When is an accident 'notifiable' to the Netherlands Labour Authority?

  A workplace accident is notifiable is the victim dies as a consequence of the accident, gets injured permanently, or needs to be admitted to a hospital. 'Permanent injury' means, among other things: amputation, blindness, or chronic or mental health-related/traumatic symptoms. The term 'hospital admission' includes one-day admissions. Outpatient treatment is not considered a hospital admission.

  If you think this is the case, then please warn the HRM, Health, Safety and Environment division via 22222.

  The manager can report notifiable workplace accidents (even outside of office hours) the fastest via phone number 0800 - 5151 (free of charge) or via the website of the Netherlands Labour Authority of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. 

• Company emergency plan

  Find more information about the company emergency plan.

  You can also view the page on the Company emergency organization.
  

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