A major accident is an uncontrolled chain of events in the handling of chemicals such as leakage, fire or explosion, which constitutes a serious risk to health and/or the environment, both inside and outside the facilities where materials are stored or used.
Quantities of dangerous substances
Companies that use large quantities of dangerous substances must draw up a major accident prevention plan and have a safety management system in place to continuously and systematically monitor hazards and dangerous substances at the establishment.
Establishments are classified into lower or upper tier depending on the nature and quantity of the substances. Example of an establishment that stores liquefied propane gas:
If the quantity is more than 50 tonnes but less than 200 tonnes, the establishment is classified into the lower tier.
If the quantity exceeds 200 tonnes, it is classified into the higher tier.
The lower tier can be as low as 200 kg if the substances are of that nature.
Stronger requirements are imposed on the supervision and reporting of companies and establishments in the higher tier. They are also required to prepare an emergency plan for the area and hold neighborhood presentations.
Flammable materials can cause fires that spread beyond the premises.
Explosive materials can destroy large areas and cause loss of life.
Toxic substances that get out of their storage location can cause harm to people and damage the environment long after the spill.
If a company uses large quantities of dangerous substances, a major accident prevention plan must be put in place.
A major accident prevention plan must be in writing, and its requirements must align with the extent of the major accident risk associated with the establishment. It must include, among other things:
The operator's general objectives and principles in relation to measures against major accident risks
The roles and responsibilities of management
Commitments to continuous improvement of prevention against major accident risks
How to best protect human health and the environment
The following information must be made available to the public, including electronically:
An on-site emergency plan
With the aim of:
Preventing and controlling accidents to minimize their impact and to reduce the damage they cause to human health, the environment, and property
Implementing the necessary measures to protect human health and the environment from the effects of major accidents
providing the necessary information to the public and to the relevant service providers or authorities in the area
An off-site emergency plan
with the aim of:
Ensuring the safety of workers, the public, and the environment in the event of a major accident involving dangerous substances
Promoting cooperation on rescue operations in the field of civil protection in the event of a major emergency
Companies in the upper tier
are also required to:
Submit a safety report.
Provide the public with accessible and clear information on safety measures and how to behave in the event of a major accident involving dangerous substances.
Provide the public, if requested, with a safety report and a list of dangerous substances (with exceptions).
In cases where it is not possible to provide a full safety report, a non-technical summary should be provided, which includes general information on the risk of a major accident and the potential effects on human health and the environment in the event of a major accident.
The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health may provide further information on establishments, such as submitted safety reports, lists of dangerous substances and emergency plans. Some information may be confidential for reasons of public interest.
An upper tier establishment must ensure that individuals and legal entities that can be affected by a major accident receive unsolicited information on safety measures and how to respond in the event of an accident.
safety measures
how to react in the event of an accident
The establishments themselves are responsible for the hearing notification procedures and information distribution. Among the information that must be provided are:
Hazards and effects of an accident. What major accident risks can arise, what is the worst-case scenario, and what are the potential impacts on people and the environment?
Accident warnings. How will residents and businesses be warned of an accident and allowed to monitor the situation?
Neighbors’ reactions. What should residents nearby or employees of neighbouring companies do, and how should they behave in the event of an accident?
See more information about hearing notification procedures. (Guidelines on hearing notification procedures.pdf - only available in Icelandic)
