Johan Gort, Teamleader Safety

TNO & Ministry of VROM

Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states2

Content

• Introduction TNO• Implementation of Seveso II• Research in new EU member states• Results• Conclusions• How to go further ...

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states3

Introduction TNO

Mission:To apply scientific knowledge with the aim of strengthening the innovative power of industry and government.

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states4

The five core areas in which TNO is active

Quality of Life Defence, Security and Safety

Built Environment and Geosciences

Science and Industry

Information and Communication Technology

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states5

Some features of TNO

TNO is:• … an independent governing body • … established in 1932• … not striving for maximum profit• … an organisation with about 5000 employees

TNO provides: • contract research• specialist consultancy• licenses for patents• specialist software• tests and certificates• independent quality evaluation.

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states6

Implementation of Seveso II

• New EU member states have implemented the Seveso II guideline

• Seveso II is inherent complicated legislation:- involvement of different juridical fields- involvement of national / regional / local government levels- involvement of different inspectorates.

• New ways of dealing with implementation difficulties?

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states7

Number of Seveso II facilties

Country Lower tier Upper tier

Hungary 60 46

Latvia 24 19

Poland 181 146

Slovakia 31 38

Cyprus 1 14

Estonia 16 13

Lithuania 12 14

Malta 4 9

Slovenia 28 24

Tsjech Rep. 76 74

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Research

Questions:1. How far are the new EU member states in implementation of

the Seveso II guideline?2. What kind of situations did they have to solve and how did they

do this?3. Is there a need to solve still existing problems?4. What kind of strategy is best for The Netherlands to transfer

existing knowledge on this subject?

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states9

Research

Part 1• desk research• internet scan • interviews with Dutch consultants

Part 2• questionnaire survey at networks:

- Impel network- CCA members- personal contacts

• telephone survey.

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states10

Results• Respondents:

- 17 persons, not from Lithuania and Tsjech Rep.

• Responsible for different fields, eg:- Major accident prevention - Assessment of SR- Head of inspection commission- Emergency response plans- Implementation of Seveso II

• At work in:- Trade licensing office- State Fire Service- Ministry of Environment (& Spatial Planning)- Environmental & Planning Authority- Department of Labour Inspection- Ministry of Defence- Ministry of Interior- General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations

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Some results (1):used instruments for analysis

Country Accident scenario

Management of barriers

Risk per location

Risk per group

Hungary X X X X

Latvia X X

Poland X X X X

Slovakia X X X X

Cyprus X X X X

Estonia X X

Malta X X X

Slovenia X

Bulgary X X X

Rumania X

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Results (2):Safety reports

nrs of safety reports / upper tier establishments

0,00

20,00

40,00

60,00

80,00

100,00

120,00

HUNGARY

LATVIA

POLAND

SLOVAK R

EPUBLIC

CYPRUS

ESTONIA

MALT

A

SLOVENIA

%

nrs of safety reports / upper tierestablishments

11 September 2006TNO / VROM – Implementation of Seveso II in new EU member states13

Results (3):number of inspectors

Aantal inspecteurs

0,00

0,20

0,40

0,60

0,80

1,00

1,20

1,40

1,60

1,80

HUNGARY

LATVIA

POLAND

CYPRUS

ESTONIA

SLOVENIA

nrs inspectors /establishments

nrs inspectors national /establishments

nrs inspectors regional /establishments

nrs inspectors local /establishments

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Results (4):% and number of emergency plans

% and number of external emergency plans

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

% of external emergency plansdeveloped

nr of external emergency planstested in the period 2000-2004

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Results (5):Responsibility for emergency plans

Country Central Regional Local

Hungary X

Latvia X X

Poland X

Slovakia X X

Cyprus X

Estonia X

Malta X

Slovenia X

Bulgary X

Rumania X

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Results (6):Improvement possibilities

1. Qualification of experts:- inspectors & local government officials- HSE managers from companies- consultants

2. Policy & methodology:- risk analysis techniques- calculation methods- external emergency plans

3. Land use planning / Communication & cooperation:- link between major hazards and land use planning- better cooperation between government levels- communication to civilians.

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Conclusions

• Difficult to oversee whole field of External safety for one person• All countries transposed the Seveso II guideline in national laws• Implementation is specific for each country

• Similarities are:- mainly focus on (possible) effects of accidents- training of inspectors by representatives of ‘old’ memberstates- lack of expert knowlege

• Differences are: - more strict interpretation - division of responsibilities- number of inspectors- level of attention to external emergency plans.

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How to go further…

• Available Dutch methodologies translated in English

• Enhance level of expertise:- more training programs in new member states- stimulating Twinning projects between two countries

• Create network of interested experts:- organize a Starting conference - building a website and ‘blackboard’- organize regular meetings.