Our commitment to your safety
Status February 2026
Information to the public in accordance with § 8a of the Major Accidents Ordinance in conjunction with Annex V, Part 1 of the Major Accidents Ordinance for the site of
BÜFA Cleaning GmbH & Co. KG
August-Hanken-Straße 30
26125 Oldenburg
GERMANY
Telephone +49 441 9317-251
Fax +49 441 9317-100
E-mail cleaning@buefa.de
In 2016, a notification in accordance with Section 7 of the Hazardous Incident Ordinance was submitted to the responsible authority - Oldenburg State Trade Supervisory Office, Authority for Labour, Environmental and Consumer Protection, Theodor-Tantzen-Platz 8, 26122 Oldenburg. Following an approval procedure in accordance with Section 16 BImSchG (Federal Immission Control Act - Act on Protection against Harmful Environmental Impacts from Air Pollution, Noise, Vibration and Similar Processes), the significant change to the existing plant was approved.
The associated construction work was completed in 2017 and the operational expansion was approved by the authorities. Since then, as the operator of an operating area that handles hazardous substances, we have been subject to the basic obligations of the Twelfth Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (12th BImSchV - StörfallV).
The authorities have been carrying out regular inspections since the BImSchG plant was first approved for operation, i.e. since 28 October 1985. With the significant change in operation, the interval between inspections has been shortened in order to monitor the safety of the plant even more closely. Initially, the authorities carried out incident and inspections.
We rely on open and honest dialogue - out of responsibility for your safety. Even though we are obliged to do so by law, it is nevertheless a personal concern of ours to provide you with an overview of our activities and the hazardous substances used in them in this information.
The responsible treatment of people and the environment is a matter of course throughout the BÜFA Group. The Cleaning division, which is part of BÜFA GmbH & Co KG, is constantly investing in the modernisation of its site in order to keep up with the state of the art and thus guarantee the development of advanced processes, facilities and operating methods. This ensures
- limiting emissions to air, water and soil,
- guaranteeing plant safety
- environmentally sound waste disposal
and a generally high level of protection for the environment as a whole.
This information has been agreed with the authorities responsible for general hazard prevention and contains the minimum information required by law in accordance with Annex V Part 1 of the Hazardous Incident Ordinance.
Activities in our operating area
As a chemical company, we primarily serve the processes of development, production, storage and dispatch of disinfectants and cleaning agents. Our facility in Oldenburg-Ohmstede is used for the production, storage and despatch of chemicals in solid and liquid form. The following sub-processes are carried out here:
- Storage and retrieval of packaged inorganic and organic basic chemicals and mixtures as general cargo in our high-bay warehouses or as bulk goods in the tank farm
- Mixing of disinfectants and cleaning agents, filling of the mixtures into packaging authorised under dangerous goods legislation
- Storage and order picking of sales containers as preparation for dispatch
- Loading the picked palletised goods onto lorries from partner haulage companies and our own vehicle fleet
- Transport of raw materials or mixtures of substances to our customers using our own fleet of vehicles
Incoming goods
Emptying points for tankers
The substances delivered by tanker are pumped into our raw material tanks in a specially equipped emptying hall. Hazardous substances such as acids, alkalis and organic solvents are stored in raw material tanks (storage in stationary containers). They are stored separately by product group in separate, fire-protection-separated and secured tank storage areas.
Incoming goods for general cargo
The raw materials and merchandise delivered by general cargo lorries are stored in our high-bay warehouses via the goods-in gates with the help of industrial trucks and automated conveyor technology.
Mixing
Mixing containers in production
With the help of a process control system, the raw materials are conveyed into the mixing containers according to recipes developed by us and the mixtures are homogenised.
Filling into containers
The mixtures are filled into various types of containers (bottles, canisters, drums, IBCs, bags, buckets, cartons), securely sealed and labelled using appropriate filling equipment.
Storage and order picking
Storage in mobile containers
There are various hazardous goods warehouses for the temporary storage of finished goods. Here too, the products are stored according to product groups in separate storage areas with separate fire protection.
Order picking
After automated retrieval, the sales containers are put together for dispatch and prepared for transport or the transport of hazardous goods.
Loading
Loading takes place primarily on lorries from various partner haulage companies. We also have our own small fleet of lorries to deliver to our customers in the surrounding area. Drivers from the haulage companies who are trained in hazardous goods legislation and our own drivers bring the shipping packaging to our customers.
Hazardous substances and their categorisation
A modern warehousing system ensures that the approved individual quantities per hazard category and the total quantity of hazardous substances and water-polluting substances present in the operating area are not exceeded.
These are substances to which at least one of the hazards listed below must be attributed. However, a combination of several hazards that apply to one substance is also possible:
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Flammable Keep away from naked flames, sparks or heat sources. Close containers tightly and store in a fireproof place |
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Oxidising Keep away from flammable substances and do not mix with them. Risk of ignition! Outbreaks of fire can be fuelled, making firefighting more difficult. |
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Toxic Do not inhale, touch or swallow. Wear protective clothing. Any contact with the human body must be avoided, as immediate serious damage to health, possibly resulting in death, cannot be ruled out. |
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Seriously harmful to health Inform yourself well before starting work; wear protective clothing and gloves, eye and mouth protection or respiratory protection. Avoid contact with the human body, including inhalation of vapours. Damage to health possible if used improperly. For individual substances, a carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic effect cannot be completely ruled out. |
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Corrosive, corrosive to metals Take special protective measures to avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing. Do not inhale vapours. Pay attention to material compatibility. |
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Irritant; harmful to health Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Do not inhale vapours. |
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Dangerous for the environment Do not allow to enter drains or the environment. Transfer only to liquid-tight, authorised surfaces. Dispose of in hazardous waste only. |
Safety equipment
The following technical and organisational measures have been taken at our site to prevent incidents and limit possible effects:
- Limitation of potential hazards through structural separation and storage of products according to product groups in separate storage rooms with separate fire protection systems
- Automatic fire detection systems throughout the company with connection to a permanently manned control centre (Oldenburg control centre)
- Automatic extinguishing systems
- Gas warning systems in the storage and filling area
- Smoke and heat extraction systems
- Lightning protection system
- Liquid-tight and resistant containment systems for product and extinguishing water retention
- Security measures against unauthorised access and sabotage
- Regular review of the concept for the prevention of incidents and the operational alarm and hazard defence plan
- Operating instructions and annual employee training and inspections
- Regular, recurring inspection of safety equipment and systems requiring monitoring by specialist companies or independent experts from a central monitoring centre
- Systematic and scheduled monitoring (inspection in accordance with Section 16 of the Major Accidents Ordinance) by the specialist authorities (last inspection by the Oldenburg Trade Supervisory Office in February 2026)
And if it does happen? - The unlikely occurrence of an incident
Despite installed safety technology and experienced and well-trained employees, the risk of an incident can be significantly reduced - but it cannot be ruled out with one hundred per cent certainty!
With every technical system, there is a small residual risk of product release or fire.
In the event of a fire or explosion, the measures in our prepared operational alarm and hazard defence plan come into effect. These measures are coordinated with the responsible authorities. The local fire brigade has access to the company alarm and hazard defence plan.
If faults or alarms occur outside operating hours, an automatic reporting system is triggered via a permanently manned centre. This ensures that in the event of a malfunction, the responsible specialists are informed promptly and the necessary countermeasures are initiated.
What to do in the event of a chemical accident
Please observe the following instructions. In doing so, you will contribute to your own safety and that of others.
You can recognise dangers yourself by
- Visible/audible signs such as fire, smoke, explosion/loud bang or
- Unusual odour perceptions, e.g. acrid, pungent odour
Alarm signals and information:
- Siren signals (plant-wide fire and evacuation alarm)
- Loudspeaker announcements from the fire brigade or police
- Radio announcements
Always stay away from the scene of the accident! Smoke clouds may contain hazardous decomposition products. Avoid direct inhalation.
Go into the building. Close windows and doors. Switch off ventilation and air conditioning systems.
FIG 1: In case of danger, evacuate the building and close doors and windows.
In case of acrid and pungent odour, hold wet cloths over mouth and nose. Contact a doctor if you feel unwell.
Do not leave the building or other protected areas until the all-clear has been given! Listen out for all-clear announcements over loudspeakers or the radio.
Information telephone: Switchboard + 49 441 9317 0