General duties

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3. General duties

3.1. Duties of competent authorities

3.1.1. General

3.1.1.1. Competent authorities should define appropriate safety objectives,

together with a major hazard control system for their implementation.

3.1.1.2. Although the control of major hazards is primarily the responsibility of

the works management operating a major hazard installation, this major hazard control

system should be set up by the competent authorities in consultation with all interested

parties. Such a system should include:

(a) the establishment of an infrastructure;

(b) the identification and inventory of major hazard installations;

(c) receipt and evaluation of safety reports;

(d) emergency planning and information to the public;

(e) siting and land-use planning;

(f) inspection of installations;

(g) reporting of major accidents;

(h) investigation of major accidents and their short- and long-term effects.

3.1.2. Establishment of infrastructure for a major hazard control system

3.1.2.1. Competent authorities should establish contacts with the industry at

various levels. Such contacts should allow discussion and co-ordination of the

various administrative and technical issues concerning major hazard installations and

their control.

3.1.2.2. Competent authorities should make available sufficient expertise to

carry out their responsibilities within the major hazard control system.

3.1.2.3. Where the expertise for a particular aspect of major hazard control is

not available within the competent authorities, they should arrange for that expertise

to be made available from outside, for example from industry or from external

consultants.

3.1.2.4. Those who provided expertise at the request of the competent

authorities should not disclose the information which they have learned in

connection with their service to any outside body other than the competent

authorities.

3.1.3. Establishment of an inventory of major hazard installations

3.1.3.1. The implementation of a major hazard control system should start with

the identification of major hazard installations. The competent authorities should