What is a Self-Protection Plan
In Spain, a Self-Protection Plan is a regulatory document that aims to ensure the safety of people and property in buildings and establishments. This plan establishes preventive and response measures for emergency situations, such as fires, earthquakes, floods or other events that may endanger the safety of a building’s occupants.
The Self-Protection Plan is mandatory for a wide range of buildings and activities, as established by Spanish regulations. Its design and implementation are essential for minimising risks and facilitating the intervention of emergency services. Furthermore, this plan must be drawn up by specialised professionals and is reviewed periodically to ensure its effectiveness.
Self-Protection Plan Regulations
The regulatory framework governing Self-Protection Plans in Spain is mainly contained in Royal Decree 393/2007 , which approves the Basic Self-Protection Standard for centres, establishments and facilities engaged in activities that may give rise to emergency situations. This standard establishes the guidelines to be followed for the development, implementation and maintenance of self-protection plans.
The Basic Self-Protection Standard applies to a wide variety of sectors, including:
- Educational and training centres.
- Health and care centres.
- Public gathering places such as concerts, theatres, cinemas, and shopping centres.
- Industrial facilities that handle hazardous substances.
- Critical infrastructure, such as power stations and transport systems.
Each autonomous community in Spain may have additional regulations that complement the general framework, adapting to the particularities of each territory.
Autonomous communities shall regulate the registration of self-protection plans carried out in their community.
Who should take out a Self-Protection Plan
The contracting of a Self-Protection Plan is the responsibility of the owners of the activities. The management of each activity is responsible for implementing the Self-Protection Plan.
Components of a Self-Protection Plan
Among other things, this regulation provides us with guidelines on how to identify and classify emergency measures, the phases that emergency response procedures should have, and the roles of the people appointed to implement these procedures. It also helps to prevent such emergencies by analysing activities and inventory, and analysing and assessing the possible risks that could lead to emergencies.
Similarly, regulations require us to have plans that reflect everything included in the report, something that emergency plans often lack.
The various points to be addressed are:
- Identification of the owners and location of the activity
- Detailed description of the activity and the physical environment in which it takes place
- Inventory, analysis and risk assessment
- Inventory and description of self-protection measures and means
- Facilities maintenance programme
- Emergency action plan
- Integration of the self-protection plan into other higher-level plans
- Implementation of the self-protection plan
- Maintaining the effectiveness and implementation of the self-protection plan
1. Identification of the owners and location of the activity
The location of the activity, its owner, the director of the Self-Protection Plan and the director of the Emergency Action Plan, if different, shall be clearly and concisely identified.
2. Detailed description of the activity and the physical environment in which it takes place
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a detailed description of the activity being carried out in a centre, establishment, etc., as well as the physical environment in which it takes place.
The main use/activity of the establishment or facility must be described, and the activities carried out on each floor of the centre must be taken into account. Based on this, the potential risks can be determined.
A description of the structural elements of the building will be provided, obtained through direct observation or extracted from the building’s construction plans. Fire sectors, vertical communication routes, evacuation routes and emergency exits will also be included.
It will have a classification and description of users.
Finally, the building will be located in its surroundings by means of a description of the same, and the accesses will be described, as well as the accessibility conditions for external assistance.
3. Inventory, analysis, and risk assessment
The risks regulated by sectoral and general regulations for activities carried out in establishments and/or facilities will be identified, analysed and assessed, as well as any external risks that may affect them.
4. Inventory and description of self-protection measures and means
The protective measures available at the centre, establishment, facilities, etc. must be identified in order to have a better understanding of them and be able to respond immediately in the event of any incident, thus minimising the risk of confusion or mistakes and avoiding unnecessary delays in the ability to act.
5. Facility maintenance programme
The maintenance of the centre’s own facilities and self-protection facilities must be scheduled to improve their effectiveness and ensure their proper functioning.
6. Emergency action plan
This is one of the most important chapters, as it sets out the organisation of the response to classified emergency situations, the protection and intervention measures to be adopted, and the procedures and sequence of actions to be taken in response to possible emergencies.
The emergency response plan establishes the procedures to be followed in the event that any of the identified risks materialise. These procedures must be clearly defined and known to all occupants of the building.
The response plan includes:
- Detection and alert: Once the emergency has been detected by automatic or personal means, the manner in which the alert is quickly transmitted to the building’s emergency teams must be defined and, where appropriate, external assistance must be requested.
- Alarm Mechanisms: The manner in which the alarm is raised, who raises it, and the Emergency Coordination Centre will be defined.
- Emergency response mechanisms: For each of the emergencies analysed, the mechanisms established to respond to them and the protocols established will be determined.
- Evacuation and/or lockdown: evacuation and lockdown procedures, designated assembly points and mechanisms for communicating evacuation or lockdown orders must be defined. Special attention shall be given to dependent persons.
- Provision of first aid: We must clearly indicate, with regard to the intervention, the team or person(s) who will be involved, as well as their location and the actions to be taken.
- Methods of receiving external aid: The person responsible for receiving external aid and relaying relevant information about emergencies to them.
7. Integration of the Self-Protection Plan into other higher-level plans
There are higher-level Self-Protection Plans, so the integration of our organisation’s Self-Protection Plan into other higher-level plans, such as the municipal plan, should be considered. The aim is that if there is an emergency in the establishment in question that could lead to an event that cannot be controlled with our own resources, the mechanism of another higher-level Plan will be available to control and minimise the consequences.
8. Implementation of the Self-Protection Plan
The responsibility for implementing the Self-Protection Plan lies with the owner of the business. Management will be responsible for putting the Self-Protection Plan into operation, and all senior management, middle management, technical staff and workers in general will participate in the implementation of the self-protection measures and the objectives thereof.
9. Maintaining the effectiveness and implementation of the Self-Protection Plan
Maintenance activities must form part of an ongoing, iterative process which, by incorporating the experience gained, enables an adequate level of operability and updating to be achieved and maintained.
A Self-Protection Plan is not a static document; it must be reviewed and updated periodically. Changes in the structure of the building, in the activities carried out therein, or in the applicable regulations may require modifications to the plan.
The regulations stipulate a mandatory review every three years, as well as after any incident or drill that reveals deficiencies in the procedures. In addition, any significant changes to the building or its surroundings must be assessed to determine their impact on the plan.
Furthermore, the Self-Protection Plan must be kept up to date at all times.
Importance and Benefits of the Self-Protection Plan
The implementation of a Self-Protection Plan offers multiple benefits, both for building occupants and for owners and managers. These benefits include:
- Personal safety: The main objective is to protect the lives of building occupants by providing tools and procedures to act effectively in emergency situations.
- Reduction of material damage: A well-designed and executed plan can significantly reduce damage to infrastructure and property by enabling a rapid and coordinated response.
- Regulatory compliance: Having a Self-Protection Plan is a legal requirement in many cases. Complying with this regulation avoids penalties and potential legal liability in the event of an incident.
- Improved corporate image: Implementing a Self-Protection Plan demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to safety and well-being, which can enhance its reputation among employees, customers and the general public.
- Facilitates emergency service response: A well-structured plan provides firefighters, police officers, and other emergency services with the information they need to respond more effectively, reducing response times and improving coordination.
Conclusion
In summary, a Self-Protection Plan is an essential tool for ensuring safety in buildings and establishments in Spain. Its development and implementation are not only a legal requirement in many cases, but also a proactive measure to protect lives and property in the event of a possible emergency. Identifying risks, planning responses, training occupants and continuously updating the plan are key elements in ensuring its effectiveness. In a world increasingly aware of the importance of safety and prevention, having a well-designed Self-Protection Plan is an investment in peace of mind and protection.
If you would like us to assist you in developing your company’s Self-Protection Plan, please contact us. We specialise in developing Self-Protection Plans for most sectors.
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