Latvia’s risk management regulations are based on a European Union directive, also known as the SEVESO III Directive. The name of the directive comes from the town of Seveso in Italy, where a major chemical accident occurred in 1976.

Risk management requirements apply to companies engaged in the handling of hazardous chemicals and mixtures:

• production,
• processing,
• storage,
• handling

in quantities that may pose a serious risk of accident.

Thus, the need for risk management depends on the hazardousness and quantity of the chemicals.

Companies engaged in activities with hazardous chemicals are classified into three categories of increased risk facilities—A, B, and C—depending on the hazard level of the substance and the maximum simultaneous storage quantity at the facility.

The list of high-risk facilities is maintained and updated annually by the State Fire and Rescue Service. We develop civil protection plans, industrial accident prevention programs, and safety reports.

Before preparing the risk assessment, the need for an environmental impact assessment must be evaluated, and afterwards—the necessity for a permit for polluting activities.

Annex 1 to Cabinet Regulation No. 131 “Procedure for Industrial Accident Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction Measures” specifies the maximum quantities of hazardous chemicals applicable to lower risk level facilities. Such facilities are classified as category B high-risk facilities and are required to develop an industrial accident prevention program.

The development of an industrial accident prevention program can be divided into the following stages:

• First, an application regarding hazardous substances at the facility must be prepared;
• The State Environmental Service reviews the application and decides on the need for an Industrial Accident Prevention Program (RANP);
• The responsible person (the company) must develop the RANP and submit it for evaluation to the State Environmental Bureau;
• Public information must be ensured in parallel with the development of the RANP;
• A civil protection plan must be developed (in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 658 requirements, which is reviewed and approved by the State Fire and Rescue Service).

Procedure for developing and evaluating the IAPP:
Latvian Environmental Management Association in cooperation with the State Environmental Bureau Guidelines for the preparation and formatting of the safety report, 2021.

The “responsible person” indicated in the scheme can be the entrepreneur themselves, or us, if we agree on the provision of such a service.

From now on, periodic facility supervision is carried out through comprehensive inspections:

• The State Environmental Service organizes and conducts periodic comprehensive inspections;
• The State Labour Inspectorate periodically checks compliance with occupational safety requirements;
• The Consumer Rights Protection Centre periodically inspects the maintenance of hazardous equipment;
• The local municipality grants permits for starting operations and carries out territorial development planning.

The need to review the industrial accident prevention program must be assessed at least once every 5 years.

We offer to prepare an industrial accident prevention program starting from 3,000 euros (excluding VAT). Preparation usually takes about two months, and coordination takes an additional three months.

Annex 1 to Cabinet Regulation No. 131 “Procedure for Industrial Accident Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction Measures” specifies the maximum quantities of hazardous chemicals applicable to higher risk level facilities. Such facilities are classified as category A high-risk facilities, and their operators must prepare and submit a safety report to the State Environmental Bureau.

Since safety reports are prepared for the highest level high-risk facilities, their preparation requires the most thorough and extensive analysis, research, and planning.

At the same time, the process of preparing a safety report is very similar to the process of developing an industrial accident prevention program, but the civil protection plan must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of Cabinet Regulation No. 131. In addition, information must be provided to the State Fire and Rescue Service for the preparation of an external civil protection plan.