Schadensminderungspflicht

Schadensminder is a risk-management concept that aims to reduce damage from adverse events across diverse domains, including manufacturing, logistics, information technology, and public safety. The term blends the German words Schaden (damage) and Minder (to lessen or prevent) and is used to describe integrated practices for prevention, containment, and recovery.

Core components of Schadensminder include risk assessment and monitoring, early-warning capabilities, standardized response procedures, and resilience measures such as redundancy, backup systems, and tested incident plans. The approach emphasizes proactive preparation, rapid detection, controlled containment, effective communication, and post-incident learning.

Implementation varies by sector but typically involves risk mapping, checklists, drills, and alignment with broader business continuity or safety programs. In manufacturing, it targets equipment protection and accident prevention; in IT, incident response and disaster recovery; in supply chains, disruption risk and contingency planning. Some organizations treat Schadensminder as a formal framework, others as guiding principles.

Effectiveness depends on organizational culture, leadership commitment, data quality, and ongoing evaluation. While Schadensminder cannot eliminate risk, it seeks to minimize expected damages and shorten recovery times in the face of evolving threats such as climate-related events and digital incidents.