Floor Warden / Evacuation Assistant
Floor sweeps and headcounts in an emergency, guiding occupants to assembly points, assisting persons with reduced mobility, evacuation drills. Trained and appointed per ASR A2.3 and DGUV Information 205-023.
ASR A2.3 · DGUV Information 205-023
Talk to us about Floor Warden / Evacuation Assistant
Three lines and you are in our inbox. We reply within one business day.
What does a Floor Warden / Evacuation Assistant do?
A floor warden, also called an evacuation assistant, makes sure that everyone leaves the building safely in an emergency. In an alarm they sweep their assigned floor or area, guide occupants to the marked escape and rescue routes, assist persons with reduced mobility, perform a headcount at the assembly point and report the result to the emergency response coordinator. The role supports the employer's duty under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Arbeitsschutzgesetz, ArbSchG) to organise emergency, fire and evacuation measures.
The technical basis is the Technical Rule for Workplaces ASR A2.3, which sets requirements for escape routes, emergency exits and the evacuation plan, and DGUV Information 205-023, which describes the selection, number, training and tasks of evacuation assistants. The number needed depends on building size, occupancy and the presence of visitors or vulnerable persons. Floor wardens work alongside fire safety assistants (Brandschutzhelfer per ASR A2.2 and DGUV Information 205-023) and first aiders, but their focus is the orderly, complete clearance of people.
In normal operation the evacuation assistant knows the escape routes and assembly points, checks that exits and signage are clear, takes part in evacuation drills and helps update the evacuation plan. After an incident they contribute to the debrief so weaknesses are corrected. The goal is that in a real emergency the area is cleared quickly, no one is left behind and the headcount confirms everyone is accounted for.
Core duties of the evacuation assistant
- Sweep the assigned floor or zone on alarm and ensure no one remains behind.
- Guide occupants to the marked escape and rescue routes required by ASR A2.3.
- Assist persons with reduced mobility and arrange their safe evacuation.
- Carry out a headcount at the assembly point and report it to the response coordinator.
- Keep escape routes, emergency exits and signage clear and report obstructions.
- Take part in and help run evacuation drills as expected under ASR A2.3.
- Know the evacuation plan, assembly points and alarm signals for the building.
- Support updates to the evacuation plan following DGUV Information 205-023.
- Wear identification (for example a vest) so occupants can recognise the assistant.
- Contribute to the post-incident debrief so weaknesses in the evacuation are corrected.
When are evacuation assistants required?
The employer must organise emergency and evacuation measures under Sec. 10 ArbSchG and appoint enough people to put them into effect. ASR A2.3 requires escape and rescue route plans and, depending on the building, an evacuation plan and drills; DGUV Information 205-023 describes how to select, instruct and train evacuation assistants and how many to provide. There is no single fixed ratio in law: the number follows from the risk assessment, the size and layout of the building, the number of occupants and the presence of visitors or persons needing assistance.
Evacuation assistants must be instructed and trained for their tasks, including the escape routes, assembly points, headcount procedure and assistance for mobility-impaired persons, and the knowledge must be refreshed regularly and after changes to the building. Training is typically combined with the fire safety assistant qualification and with evacuation drills. The appointment should be documented, and assistants must be available during operating hours, so larger sites name several per floor and shift to ensure coverage. The duty applies regardless of company size wherever the risk assessment shows that orderly evacuation cannot otherwise be assured.
- Emergency and evacuation duty under Sec. 10 ArbSchG
- Escape-route and evacuation-plan requirements of ASR A2.3
- Risk assessment showing a need for organised evacuation
- Buildings with visitors or persons needing assistance
- Multi-storey or high-occupancy premises
- Selection and training duties under DGUV Information 205-023
Sectors that appoint evacuation assistants
- Office and administration buildings
- Hospitals and care homes
- Schools and universities
- Hotels and event venues
- Retail and shopping centres
- Manufacturing and industrial sites
- Logistics and warehouses
- Public authorities
- Laboratories and research facilities
How CIVAC supports the evacuation assistant role
CIVAC keeps the evacuation organisation current and provable. Task templates cover recurring duties such as drill scheduling, escape-route checks, assembly-point inspections and refresher training, each with a reminder before it falls due. The documentation area holds evacuation plans, drill reports, the list of appointed assistants and the headcount procedure, so coverage per floor and shift is visible at a glance. The audit trail records when drills ran and when training was refreshed, which evidences the employer's duty under Sec. 10 ArbSchG. The training library delivers and tracks the instruction expected by DGUV Information 205-023. EU data residency keeps personnel and drill records within the EU.
Frequently asked questions
Need this officer role for your organisation?
Appoint our experts as your external officer or license CIVAC for your in-house team. Get in touch and we walk you through the right setup.