The Communiqué on Major Accident Prevention Policy Documents ("Communiqué") entered into effect on 4 August 2015 when it was published in Official Gazette number 29435. It introduces formal and contextual requirements for major accident prevention policy ("MAPP") documents which apply to establishments categorized in the lower tier for hazardous substance levels. The tier system is outlined in the Regulation on Prevention and Effect Control of Major Industrial Accidents published in Official Gazette number 28867 on 30 December 2013 ("Regulation"), which categorizes establishments into either the low or high tier.
Article 5 of the Communiqué requires operators of lower-tier establishments to:
- Issue a MAPP document containing the required content and format (or arrange for one to be issued).
- Add initials on each page of the MAPP document and their original or electronic signature on the last page (or have a proxy do this).
The Communiqué outlines mandatory content and components of MAPP documents for lower-tier establishments:
- Information about the establishment: Identifying information, such as the establishment's commercial title, address, tax number etc.
- Purpose of the MAPP: The establishment must undertake
that:
- A security management system ("SMS") exists to prevent major industrial accidents, as well as minimize damage to humans and the environment.
- The SMS provides high, effective and continuous protection, with ensured continuity.
- Policy principles: The establishment should:
- Express regulatory compliance and explain the relationship between the MAPP and SMS.
- State other management systems and/or international standards which are applied in the establishment, if any.
- Undertake that it has obtained and evaluated data regarding technological improvements, previous experiences within the establishment, as well as incidents with major accident potential that took place in other establishments.
- SMS information: The establishment should provide detailed
information about security management with regard to:
- The organization and personnel.
- Determining and evaluating major accident risks.
- Operation control.
- Change methods.
- Emergency planning.
- Performance monitoring.
- Supervision and examination.
The Communiqué was issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning. Please see this link for the full text of the Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.