Prevention of incidents and accidents is a joint effort
Prevention of incidents and accidents is the responsibility of the rescue services. Incident and accident prevention refers to measures intended to decrease the likelihood of incidents and accidents and mitigate the amount of damage caused.
Prevention of incidents and accidents is a key task of rescue services. To do this, rescue departments provide guidance, advice and training for people, and carry out supervisory tasks. Rescue authorities supervise the safety of buildings and various activities, through fire inspections and other supervisory methods.
Prevention of incidents and accidents involves cooperation with other local authorities and communities, and local residents.
The purpose of the incident and accident prevention work of rescue services is to increase the ability of people and communities to identify dangerous situations, prevent hazards and act in emergencies. Each and every one of us is responsible for maintaining safety and security.
One of the national strategic objectives is to halve the number of fires by 2030. It is also one of the objectives set out in the Government Programme. Achieving this objective will require extensive and multidisciplinary cooperation, in which all people are encouraged to exercise care when handling fire.
Everyone can prevent accidents or limit damage through their own actions
The Rescue Act imposes general duties on all of us. These include:
• the general duty to act,
• the duty of care, and
• the duty to take care when handling fire.
Successful rescue operations require that those who have witnessed an accident know what to do and are able to take the right measures before the rescue services arrive at the scene. Many incidents and accidents and the damage caused by them can be prevented or limited by simple measures.
Everyone must observe the provisions on safety laid down in the Rescue Act. Fire and other hazardous substances must be handled with particular care. Precautions must be taken to prevent dangerous situations, as this will stop fires from breaking out, or other incidents and accidents from occurring. In addition, in the event of danger, each resident is obliged to make an emergency call, warn those in danger and take rescue action to the best of their abilities.
Action plan for incident prevention improves everyday safety
The action plan for incident prevention for the rescue services defines the national targets for incident prevention and makes it into a stronger part of all rescue services activities.
The mission for the action plan for incident prevention is safe and incident-free daily life 2025. The related sub-targets are enhancing the experience of safety, increasing people's skills and own initiative, ensuring availability of services and developing shared work.
The leading themes of the action plan are impact and phenomenon-based and people-oriented approaches. Particular emphasis has been placed on the safety education of children and young people, the development of cooperation and a stronger sense of caring.
The targets laid out in the action plan can be achieved by using the whole range of instruments available to safety work. In addition to education and communication, this includes supervision, research and social impact.
The implementation of the action plan will be monitored by a coordination group consisting of representatives of the rescue service sector. The coordination group works together with different stakeholders at the national level.