ANNEX IVProvisions by operators and owners for prevention of major accidents pursuant to Article 19

1.Member States shall ensure that operators and owners:

  1. (a)

    pay particular attention to evaluation of the reliability and integrity requirements of all safety and environmental critical systems and base their inspection and maintenance systems on achieving the required level of safety and environmental integrity;

  2. (b)

    take appropriate measures to ensure as far as reasonably practicable that there is no unplanned escape of hazardous substances from pipelines, vessels and systems intended for their safe confinement. In addition, operators and owners shall ensure that no single failure of a containment barrier can lead to a major accident;

  3. (c)

    prepare an inventory of available equipment, its ownership, location, transport to and mode of deployment at the installation and any entities relevant to the implementation of the internal emergency response plan. The inventory shall identify measures in place to ensure equipment and procedures are maintained in operable condition;

  4. (d)

    ensure they have a suitable framework for monitoring compliance with all relevant statutory provisions by incorporating their statutory duties in respect of major hazards control and environmental protection into their standard operating procedures; and

  5. (e)

    pay particular attention to building and maintaining a strong safety culture with a high likelihood of continuous safe operation, including with regard to securing cooperation of the workers through, inter alia:

    1. (i)

      visible commitment to tripartite consultations and actions arising therefrom;

    2. (ii)

      encouraging and rewarding reporting of accidents and near-misses;

    3. (iii)

      working effectively with elected safety representatives;

    4. (iv)

      protecting whistleblowers.

2.

Member States shall ensure that industry cooperates with competent authorities to establish and implement a priority plan for the development of standards, guidance and rules which will give effect to best practice in major accident prevention, and limitation of consequences of major accidents should they nonetheless occur.