Civil protection for companies: employee protection plan
The Civil Protection Act imposes obligations on every company. We prepare a plan for protecting employees and persons in your care, prepare and evaluate an exercise of the plan, train your employees and help you communicate with the district office.
What obligations a company has in civil protection
Obligation
Who it applies to
prepare and update an employee protection plan and a plan for persons in your care, and exercise it at least once every 3 years
every company; does not apply to companies with emergency plans under special regulations
plan the evacuation of employees, announce it in an emergency and inform the municipality
every company
establish and maintain protective structures for shelter and warning equipment
every company
establish civil protection units and facilities
at its own discretion or by decision of the district office
provide material resources in preparation for and during emergencies
every company
inform the district office and municipality of possible danger, report an emergency, warning service, special individual protection equipment
additionally companies whose activities may endanger life, health or property, for example when working with hazardous substances
Under Section 16 of Act No. 42/1994 Coll. on the civil protection of the population, as amended.
What the employee protection plan contains
The plan sets out what employees and management do in an emergency: a natural disaster, an accident, a leak of a hazardous substance or a terrorist attack. Its scope is set by the district office, and the measures are based on Decree No. 533/2006 Coll. It typically covers:
warning and notifying employees: who informs whom and how
evacuation: routes, assembly point, who directs it and how to check that everyone has left
sheltering employees and other people present in the company
individual protection and first aid
protection of employees who cannot interrupt their work in the endangered area
contacts for the district office, municipality and emergency services
The plan must be a living document: employees should know it, and it should be exercised in practice once every three years.
What we provide for you
Employee protection plan
We prepare the plan in the scope set by the district office for all your sites and persons in your care.
Updating the plan
When the number of employees, premises or activities change, we adjust the plan to reflect reality.
Civil protection exercise
We prepare, direct and evaluate the exercise of the plan. We can combine it with a fire drill as part of fire protection.
Employee training
Employees learn how warnings are given, where to evacuate and what to do in an emergency.
Inspections
We regularly check whether the company fulfils its civil protection tasks and whether the documentation is up to date.
District office and municipality
We prepare documents for the district office and the municipality and help during inspections.
Who can prepare the plan
The employee protection plan may only be prepared and updated by a person with professional competence in civil protection (Section 18a of Act No. 42/1994 Coll.). Competence is obtained through professional training and an exam at the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and must be renewed every five years. We hold a certificate of professional competence in civil protection, so we can provide both the plan and its exercise without you having to train anyone.
Fines
For breaching its obligations, the district office can fine a company up to €10,000. During an emergency situation or a state of emergency or exception, the fine is from €500 to €33,000. A fine may be imposed within two years of discovering the breach, and no later than three years after it occurred (Section 31 of Act No. 42/1994 Coll.).
Frequently asked questions about civil protection in companies
Does a small company also need an employee protection plan?
Yes. All legal entities and self-employed persons are obliged to prepare a plan for protecting employees and persons in their care and to exercise it at least once every three years (Section 16(1)(e) and (2) of Act No. 42/1994 Coll.). The scope of the plan is set by the district office, so for a small company it is usually simpler. Companies with emergency plans under special regulations do not prepare the plan.
Who can prepare an employee protection plan?
A person with professional competence in civil protection (Section 18a of Act No. 42/1994 Coll.). Professional competence is demonstrated by a certificate from the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and must be renewed every five years through training and an exam.
How often must the plan be exercised and updated?
The plan is exercised at least once every three years. It must be updated whenever something important changes: the number of employees, premises, activities or contact persons.
Is the employee protection plan the same as a fire evacuation plan?
No. A fire evacuation plan is a fire protection document under Act No. 314/2001 Coll. and deals with evacuation in the event of a fire. The employee protection plan falls under civil protection and deals with emergencies such as floods, leaks of hazardous substances, accidents or terrorist attacks: warning, sheltering, evacuation and individual protection. Both can be aligned and exercised together.
What fine can be imposed for failing to meet civil protection obligations?
The district office can fine a company up to €10,000. If the breach occurs during an emergency situation or a state of emergency or exception, the fine is from €500 to €33,000 (Section 31 of Act No. 42/1994 Coll.).
Who inspects civil protection in companies?
The district office, in practice its crisis management department, and for some obligations also the municipality in which the company operates. Both can impose fines.
We take care of civil protection for you
Employee protection plan, exercise, training and communication with the district office. You get an exact quote within 24 hours.
V zložitej spleti vyhlášok, noriem, zákonov a kontrol preberáme starosti za našich klientov. Vy sa venujete tomu, čo je pre vás dôležité – vašej firme.
In a complex web of decrees, standards, laws and inspections, we take the worry off our clients' shoulders. You focus on what matters to you – your business.