The UNECE Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (hereinafter referred to as the Convention), that entered into force in 2000, is intended to protect people and the environment from adverse effects of industrial accidents by their prevention, reduction of their severity and frequency, and by mitigation of their impacts. The Assistance Programme within the framework of the Convention exists to support countries with economies in transition. In these countries, main difficulties in the implementation of the Convention are associated with the need of: organisation of appropriate institutional structures and mechanisms for inter-agency coordination at the national level; organisation of bilateral and multilateral transboundary coordination with neighbouring countries; development and implementation of legislative industrial safety measures.
The strategic approach for the implementation of the Assistance Program developed by UNECE includes self-assessment, as a tool to assess possibility of implementation of requirements of the Convention, to identify shortcomings and to develop action plans for their elimination, as well as project proposals for requesting external assistance, if necessary. The self-assessment covers 6 main working areas under the Convention: Identification of hazardous activities; Notification on hazardous activities; Prevention; Preparedness; Response and mutual assistance; Information to the public and public participation.
In 2016, the Project on Strengthening Industrial Safety in Central Asia was launched. The project is implemented by the Convention secretariat with participation of experts from the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus, and STC «Industrial Safety» CJSC.
Becoming a Party to the Convention, a State joins the institutional regime of the Convention. Cooperation under the Convention makes an important contribution to the prevention, preparedness and response to industrial accidents.
E.V. Klovach, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Prof., General Dir., klovach@safety.ru STC «Industrial Safety» CJSC, Moscow, Russia E.A. Rubach, Department Expert United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva, Switzerland E.V. Baranovsky, Chief Specialist EMERCOM of Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
The UNECE Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (hereinafter referred to as the Convention), that entered into force in 2000, is intended to protect people and the environment from adverse effects of industrial accidents by their prevention, reduction of their severity and frequency, and by mitigation of their impacts. The Assistance Programme within the framework of the Convention exists to support countries with economies in transition. In these countries, main difficulties in the implementation of the Convention are associated with the need of: organisation of appropriate institutional structures and mechanisms for inter-agency coordination at the national level; organisation of bilateral and multilateral transboundary coordination with neighbouring countries; development and implementation of legislative industrial safety measures.
The strategic approach for the implementation of the Assistance Program developed by UNECE includes self-assessment, as a tool to assess possibility of implementation of requirements of the Convention, to identify shortcomings and to develop action plans for their elimination, as well as project proposals for requesting external assistance, if necessary. The self-assessment covers 6 main working areas under the Convention: Identification of hazardous activities; Notification on hazardous activities; Prevention; Preparedness; Response and mutual assistance; Information to the public and public participation.
In 2016, the Project on Strengthening Industrial Safety in Central Asia was launched. The project is implemented by the Convention secretariat with participation of experts from the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus, and STC «Industrial Safety» CJSC.
Becoming a Party to the Convention, a State joins the institutional regime of the Convention. Cooperation under the Convention makes an important contribution to the prevention, preparedness and response to industrial accidents.
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