46
3 The Role of Legislation
and information on the immediate environmental surroundings of the site (including
factors likely to cause or worsen a major accident).
Furthermore, the directive requires operators to establish and implement a major
accident prevention policy (MAPP). The MAPP should include not only overall
aims and principles of preventive actions but also the role and responsibility of
management. It should also show a commitment to continuous improvement. In
addition to the MAPP, operators of higher-tier facilities are also required to produce
a safety report demonstrating that a MAPP has been implemented, that hazards have
been identified with measures taken to prevent major accidents, and that adequate
safety and reliability aspects have been taken into account when designing the
facility. The MAPP should include detailed information about the organization and
its personnel, as well as accident risk analyses and measures of protection and
intervention to limit the consequences of a major accident. An internal emergency
plan is also mandatory for higher-tier facilities, and this must be provided to the
member state authority and include the necessary information to establish external
emergency plans.
In the case of an accident, the operator of any site (both higher and lower tiers)
is required to inform the competent government authority and provide information
on the circumstance of the accident; the dangerous substances involved; available
data for assessing the effects of the accident on human health, environment, and
property; as well as emergency measures that are being taken. Further, information
on how to mitigate the medium- and long-term effects of the accident and how to
prevent any recurrence of such an accident needs to be provided.
In addition to defining obligations for facility operators, the Seveso Directive
also includes obligations for EU member states and member state authorities. These
aim to ensure that land-use policies take into account preventing major accidents
and limiting resulting consequences, e.g., through maintaining appropriate safety
distances or implementing technical measures. Member states are also required to
make any relevant information on sites covered by the Seveso Directive publicly
available and ensure that the public is consulted and involved in the decisionmaking process for individual projects. In the event of a major accident, member
state authorities need to ensure that adequate action is taken, that persons likely
to be affected are informed, and that the operator takes any necessary corrective
measures. Lastly, member states and member state authorities are obliged to
conduct inspections and prohibit any unlawful operation of facilities. Any relevant
information on the prevention and mitigation of major accidents along with acquired
experience should be shared with the European Commission and among other
member states.
3.4.3 EU Occupational Safety and Health Directives
The protection of employees while at work is regulated in the EU under the
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Directives, which are a set of directives
managed by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (European Union,
3 The Role of Legislation
and information on the immediate environmental surroundings of the site (including
factors likely to cause or worsen a major accident).
Furthermore, the directive requires operators to establish and implement a major
accident prevention policy (MAPP). The MAPP should include not only overall
aims and principles of preventive actions but also the role and responsibility of
management. It should also show a commitment to continuous improvement. In
addition to the MAPP, operators of higher-tier facilities are also required to produce
a safety report demonstrating that a MAPP has been implemented, that hazards have
been identified with measures taken to prevent major accidents, and that adequate
safety and reliability aspects have been taken into account when designing the
facility. The MAPP should include detailed information about the organization and
its personnel, as well as accident risk analyses and measures of protection and
intervention to limit the consequences of a major accident. An internal emergency
plan is also mandatory for higher-tier facilities, and this must be provided to the
member state authority and include the necessary information to establish external
emergency plans.
In the case of an accident, the operator of any site (both higher and lower tiers)
is required to inform the competent government authority and provide information
on the circumstance of the accident; the dangerous substances involved; available
data for assessing the effects of the accident on human health, environment, and
property; as well as emergency measures that are being taken. Further, information
on how to mitigate the medium- and long-term effects of the accident and how to
prevent any recurrence of such an accident needs to be provided.
In addition to defining obligations for facility operators, the Seveso Directive
also includes obligations for EU member states and member state authorities. These
aim to ensure that land-use policies take into account preventing major accidents
and limiting resulting consequences, e.g., through maintaining appropriate safety
distances or implementing technical measures. Member states are also required to
make any relevant information on sites covered by the Seveso Directive publicly
available and ensure that the public is consulted and involved in the decisionmaking process for individual projects. In the event of a major accident, member
state authorities need to ensure that adequate action is taken, that persons likely
to be affected are informed, and that the operator takes any necessary corrective
measures. Lastly, member states and member state authorities are obliged to
conduct inspections and prohibit any unlawful operation of facilities. Any relevant
information on the prevention and mitigation of major accidents along with acquired
experience should be shared with the European Commission and among other
member states.
3.4.3 EU Occupational Safety and Health Directives
The protection of employees while at work is regulated in the EU under the
Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Directives, which are a set of directives
managed by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (European Union,