Preventing major industrial accidents in Asia : A guideILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (ILO/EASMAT), ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Bangkok |
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Framework for major hazard control system |
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The purpose of a major hazard control system is to prevent accidents involving hazardous substances and limit their consequences. This requires close collaboration between employers' and workers' organizations and the government. The framework of the system, as laid down in the ILO Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174), is described below.
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NATIONAL POLICY |
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The ILO member State must formulate, implement, and periodically review national policy to protect workers, the public, and the environment against the risk of major accidents. It must do so in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers and others concerned. Preventive and protective measures should be implemented and the best safety technologies promoted. If necessary, legislation should be modified to include the major hazard control system.
The policy should cover identification of major hazards and their control through preventive measures, mitigation of the effects of accidents, and protection of workers, the public, and the environment from the consequences of accidents. Control of major hazards must be linked to and complement general efforts to improve occupational safety and health. It can be implemented by a practical, step-by-step approach, as outlined in Chapter 4. Designation of competent authorities
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DESIGNATION OF COMPETENT AUTHORITIES |
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The government must designate a competent authority or competent authorities to set up and administer the major hazard control system.
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IDENTIFICATION OF MAJOR HAZARD INSTALLATIONS |
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A major hazard installation is one where hazardous substances exceeding their threshold quantities are present. The competent authorities will setup a system for identifying such installations based on a list of hazardous substances and their corresponding threshold quantities established in accordance with national laws and regulations or international standards.
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RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS |
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Based on the major hazard control system set up by the competent authorities, employers must identify their major hazard installations and notify the competent authorities.
Employers must establish and maintain a documented system of major hazard control, including an on-site emergency plan (de-tailed in the ILO code of practice) for each major hazard installation. They must pre- pare a safety report reflecting the documented system, which should be reviewed, updated, and amended as conditions or circumstances change. The safety report should be made available to the competent authorities.
Employers must inform the competent authorities as soon as a major accident occurs. The accident must be reported in detail, with recommendations on the preventive action to be taken.
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RESPONSIBILITEIS OF COMPETENT AUTHORITIES |
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The competent authorities will inspect the major hazard installation, ensure compliance with national laws and regulations, and investigate an accident. They have the right to suspend operations that pose imminent threat of a major accident. They will ensure that off-site emergency arrangements are established (described in the ILO code of practice). They will establish a comprehensive siting policy and arrange for appropriate separation of a new major hazard installation from working and residential areas and public facilities, and appropriate measures for existing installations.
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RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF WORKERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES |
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Workers and their representatives W must be informed of the hazards associated with the installation and their likely consequences. They must be advised of orders, instructions and recommendations by the competent authorities. They must be consulted in the preparation of safety reports, accident reports, and emergency plans and procedures, and have access to them.
They must discuss with the employer any hazards they consider can cause a major accident and have the right to notify the competent authorities of such hazards. They must take corrective action and, if necessary, interrupt activities if there is reason to believe that there is imminent danger of a major accident. They must notify their supervisor or raise an alarm before or as soon as possible after taking such action.
They must be regularly instructed and trained in preventive practices and emergency procedures and comply with them.
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Updated by PAP/SUT/TRS. Approved by BKL. Last update: 29 August 2000