Dutch companies at risk of severe accidents, 2001

In 2001, there were 161 Dutch companies covered by the Prevention of Major Accidents Decree (BRZO). The decree sets out requirements for the safety policies of these companies. How many companies meet these requirements?

Companies at risk of severe accidents

All 161 BRZO companies had informed the authorities on 31 December 2001 that they were covered by the decree. This includes the companies who did so in 2000. Eighty-six per cent of the BRZO companies have a Prevention Policy for Severe Accidents (PbZo) and 80% have introduced safety management systems.

Policy

The BRZO came into effect in 1999. The BRZO sets out requirements for the safety policies of companies which work with dangerous substances on a large scale. BRZO companies are expected to draft a document describing their PbZo. In addition, companies are required to introduce safety management systems.

Technical note

In the context of the monitoring and evaluation of government performance, the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO) questions all provincial authorities annually about their environment policy.
Monitoring government performance

References

• IPO (2002). Interprovinciale rapportage Milieu, Water, Landbouw en Natuur 2002. Association of Provincial Authorities, Lelystad. This report contains an extensive set of provincial data about the environment, water, nature and agriculture for 2001.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Index external safety, for data about the risks affecting local residents caused by air traffic and by the production, the use, the storage and the transport of dangerous substances.
• Municipal disaster plans, 2000 (page is not available yet)
• Inclusion of the transportation of dangerous substances in zoning plans in the Netherlands, 1999-2002
• Dutch companies obliged to produce safety reports, 2001
• Monitoring government performance