Guidance material

According to § 32 of the Chemicals Act, a general, specific or detailed plan (hereinafter planning) and a construction project must be submitted to the Estonian Rescue Board for approval:
1) upon selection of the location of a new establishment;
2) upon expansion of the operations of an existing establishment or increasing production, provided that a plan needs to be initiated or amended or a building permit needs to be granted for such activity;
3)  upon planning an area located in the danger zone of a dangerous enterprise and of an enterprise with a major hazard or upon planning construction works there.

The Estonian Rescue Board has developed a methodology for the implementation of § 32 of the Chemicals Act. This methodology is a tool for decision making on plans and construction projects, since the building is constructed, and, where appropriate, also the construction, must be in line with the constraints and design of the building's location. In the case of planning for a danger zone, a risk of a major accident or creating a dangerous enterprise, and in case of making changes  in the existing one (in the event of an increase in risk), there are restrictions ( § 12 (2) of the Building Code).

• Handbook - the Estonian Rescue Board activities in spatial planning

The Spatial Planning Handbook provides an overview of the planning process and the role of the Estonian Rescue Board in identifying the principles to be taken into account in planning. The Handbook is intended for professionals in the field of spatial planning of the Estonian Rescue Board (crisis management, fire safety, and rescue). In order to get an overview of the role of the Estonian Rescue Board and the principles underlying the processing of the plans, the Handbook is also a useful tool for organizers of preparing the plan and for the planners.

The first chapter of the Handbook briefly introduces the various phases of spatial planning, including strategic environmental assessment as an essential part of spatial planning and reading of plans. The second chapter explains the role of the Estonian Rescue Board arising from the law in terms of strategic planning assessment of both planning and environmental impact. The third chapter outlines the principles of the Estonian Rescue Board regarding provision of an opinion in terms of the need for a strategic assessment of environmental impact, provision of an opinion in terms of a strategic assessment program of environmental impact, provision of an opinion on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, and the coordination of different types of planning.

• Risks in Harju County and recommendations for coping with them
  Emergencies can endanger people's lives and health, seriously damage the environment, and cause interference with the functioning of a vital service or cause major financial damage. Thus, in a state of emergency, the readiness and proper behavior of the population are important.
  This information book describes the risks that take place in Harju County most frequently and gives recommendations for coping with them.