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Ready to act: how Bergner’s Emergency Brigade works

This time, we spoke with Sonia Sánchez, Sandra Barriendos, and Elena Périz, representing Bergner’s Emergency Brigade, to learn how the team is organised, how they prepare for each intervention, and what lies behind the silent work that looks after everyone’s safety.

How is Bergner’s Emergency Brigade organised? What are the roles and responsibilities of each member during a drill or a real emergency?

What kind of training does the team receive to stay ready to act safely? Does it include practical exercises, workshops, or external courses?

Bergner’s Emergency Brigade is made up of nine people with specialised training in Health and Safety. It’s a voluntary team, strategically selected and distributed across key areas of the office and warehouse (near emergency exits and fire equipment) to ensure that in the event of any incident, the response is fast, coordinated, and effective in every area.

The team’s activity is structured around regular meetings to review key safety topics, update procedures, and reinforce internal coordination so that, when the time comes, everyone knows exactly how to act.

When any member of the brigade detects a risk situation, they raise the alarm and immediately notify the rest of the team and the Head of Emergency. The Head assesses the severity of the incident and, if necessary, orders a general evacuation of the building. She also assigns a designated brigade member (in this case, Elena Périz) to liaise with external services to ensure a full and coordinated response following official protocols.

During an evacuation, the brigade acts as the Alarm and Evacuation Team, guiding employees towards the nearest emergency exits and accompanying them to the designated assembly point.

At the same time, a sweep of the facilities is carried out to check that no one remains inside meeting rooms, toilets, or offices. Once at the meeting point, team leaders conduct a headcount of their personnel and report back to the brigade and the Head of Emergency, confirming that everyone is safe or reporting any incidents.

The emergency concludes when the Head of Emergency verifies that everything is under control and, if necessary, follows the guidance of external authorities before re-entry.

The brigade is led by Sonia Sánchez, Head of Emergency, with training in First Aid, responsible for overall coordination. In the warehouse area, Carlos Laguna, trained in Firefighting and First Aid (in progress), ensures coverage of that zone. Fernando Navas also holds First Aid training and will soon complete his Firefighting certification.

In Firefighting, Jaime Ciprés and Elena Périz handle the first response with extinguishers, cutting supplies when safe to do so, and guiding the evacuation.

In First Aid, Sandra Barriendos, Paloma Lahuerta, and Esther Huerta assist affected individuals and accompany them to the assembly point. Esther, who also has Firefighting training, provides additional operational support when needed.

As medical support, Patricia Marín, trained in the use of a defibrillator (AED), strengthens the team’s capacity to respond to cardiac emergencies.

All brigade members receive specialised external training provided by certified professionals, combining theory with hands-on simulations, extinguisher use, and essential techniques such as basic CPR.

To maintain the highest level of readiness, Bergner runs regular drills and refresher sessions, constantly updating evacuation routes, signage, and team rosters.

This system, based on prevention, coordination, and continuous improvement, ensures that Bergner has a strong and reliable emergency response mechanism capable of minimising risks and protecting the health and safety of all.

In case of emergency, all staff are reminded of the importance of staying calm, avoiding lifts, not returning for personal belongings, and following the brigade’s instructions until they reach the assembly point.

During last week’s fire drill, what was the experience like from within the team? What stood out about the group’s performance or the rest of the staff’s response?

The brigade’s work stands out for its speed and efficiency, the result of prior preparation, regular training, and strong commitment from every member. Thanks to this readiness, everyone knows their role, procedures are internalised, and coordination flows seamlessly from the very first signal.

Likewise, the rest of the staff responded swiftly to the brigade’s instructions, reinforcing teamwork and speeding up the collective response. This alignment between brigade members and colleagues enables smooth evacuations, secure control of critical spaces, and rapid resolution of incidents, minimising risk and ensuring everyone’s safety.

What should the rest of the staff know or keep in mind during an emergency?

The Emergency Brigade’s training and preparation allow them to act accurately from the very first moment. Each member knows their role, masters the procedures, and understands exactly what to do. The goal is clear: to minimise risks and ensure the safety of all employees at all times.

For this system to work effectively, it’s essential that the entire workforce follows the brigade’s instructions promptly, stays calm, and cooperates. Doing so allows for a safe, orderly evacuation, reducing response times and ensuring that emergencies are resolved quickly and efficiently.

On a personal level, what motivates you or what does being part of the brigade bring you? (For example, the sense of responsibility, teamwork, learning to stay calm, etc.)

• Purpose and helping others: feeling useful by protecting colleagues in an emergency.

• Civic responsibility: commitment to safety and a culture of prevention.

• Sense of competence: satisfaction from mastering critical skills (CPR, firefighting, evacuation).

• Certified training in First Aid and Firefighting.

• Clarity and protocol: reducing uncertainty and increasing confidence.