What is covered by the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods
“Flammable goods” means flammable gases, flammable liquids and fire-reactive substances. “Explosive goods” includes explosive substances and mixtures and explosive objects. Definitions of what is regarded as flammable and explosive goods can be found in the Regulations MSBFS 2010:4 concerning which goods are to be regarded as flammable or explosive goods. “Handling” means manufacture, processing, treatment, packing, storage, transportation, use, disposal, recovery, destruction, marketing, maintenance, transfer, etc. The legislation specifies a range of duties of care aimed at ensuring that measures are taken to prevent and limit the consequences of accidents. To some extent, these measures also aim to limit theft and illegal use. The legislation also includes requirements for buildings and facilities where flammable or explosive goods are handled to be adequately equipped to ensure safety. When assessing handling, consideration should also be given to the surrounding environment.
Responsibilities and roles
The vice-chancellor is ultimately responsible for fire safety and work environment management at Örebro University. Moreover, the vice-chancellor is responsible for all permits for the handling of flammable and explosive goods at Örebro University. At Örebro University, responsibilities and organisation are regulated in the Action Plan for Systematic Fire Safety Management. Each head of school/director of division is responsible for ensuring that the handling within their activity is compliant with applicable laws, regulations and government requirements. As part of this responsibility, the head of school/director of division must appoint one or more supervisors within their area of activity to monitor and check, under the permit holder’s responsibility, that the handling is carried out in compliance with applicable regulations and within the framework of the permit. This delegation is to be made in writing by the head of school/director of division concerned. The university's chemical register contains a summary of the types of flammable products handled, the location where they are stored and in what volume they are stored. Each school and division that handles flammable goods is responsible for keeping the chemical register updated. This information is fundamental when applying for/reviewing permits for the handling of flammable and explosive goods. The safety manager at Örebro University administers permits at the behest of the vice-chancellor. The safety manager also has the duty of coordinating fire safety management at Örebro University.
Permits for handling flammable and explosive goods
The handling of flammable and explosive goods at Örebro University is subject to a permit under the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods, since none of the exceptions granted by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency are applicable to the activities at Örebro University. Örebro University is classified as a “professional public activity” because its premises contain a combination of laboratory facilities and educational facilities (For more information, see Manual – Permit for handling flammable gases and liquids). Within this activity category, it is only permitted to handle 2 litres of flammable gas. Because the volumes handled are above this level, all volumes of flammable and explosive goods must be included in the permit. Permits do not apply to the activities themselves because different activities at Örebro University are, generally speaking, not technically distinct from each other. Örebro University has a permit to handle flammable and explosive goods at all campuses, which covers the substances and volumes specified when the application for the flammable and explosive goods permit was submitted. If the activities change, for instance if the activity is moved to new premises, or if the activity requires other flammable or explosive goods to be handled than those covered by the existing permit, a new permit must be applied for.
No handling must take place until a permit for the handling of flammable and explosive goods has been issued. Please note that a permit application can take 1-2 months or longer to process, as risk assessments, classification plans, explosion protection documentation, operation and maintenance documentation, etc. must be included with the application. In some cases, premises may need to be converted or adapted. In many cases, the risk assessment needs to be carried out with the help of an external expert. Consequently, it is important to make plans well in advance.
Supervisor for flammable and explosive goods
Under Section 9 of the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods, a party carrying out activities subject to a permit under that Act must appoint one or more persons to supervise the activities. The supervisor's task is to ensure that the activities are conducted in compliance with the duty of care and in accordance with the other obligations under the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods or with regulations issued in connection with this Act. The supervisor must be given the necessary powers as well as the other conditions needed to perform their duties. If the supervisor discovers that any handling of flammable and explosive goods is not in compliance with the law or internal procedures, the supervisor must, in the first instance, report this to the head of school/director of division. If this does not result in the handling being changed to comply with laws or internal procedures, the supervisor must notify the vice-chancellor, who is responsible for the handling at Örebro University.
Coordination responsibilities
When more than one activity conducts operations in the same place, specific risks can easily arise due to the different activities affecting each other. Such workplaces must have an appointed work environment coordinator (Work Environment Act, Chapter 3, Section 7D). The work environment coordinator is responsible for coordinating safety management. Other employers and workers at the site are required to follow the coordinator’s instructions.