The Executive Yuan yesterday unveiled a NT$26 billion (US$804 million) policy package to bolster firefighter occupational safety that centered on proposed amendments to the Fire Services Act (消防法) and subsidies to obtain equipment and technology.
Executive Yuan spokesman Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) detailed the policies at a news conference after the day’s Cabinet meeting.
The amendments would focus on stricter rules for private enterprises to comply with fire safety codes and raising occupational safety and health standards in fire departments, he said.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan Fire Department
The proposed changes follow calls for reform from groups following an explosion at a factory in Pingtung County that killed four firefighters in September last year.
The plan drafted by the Ministry of the Interior also proposes to increase the firefighter training program’s capacity to 1,300 cadets, Chen said.
Fire service equipment would be modernized with the addition of new equipment before the end of next year, Chen said.
These include 88 thermal imaging drones, 88 search-and-rescue robots, 346 vehicles to replace old ones and 50,000 sets of personal protective equipment, he said.
They also include a fleet of 181 protected vehicles for responding to chemical, biological or nuclear incidents, and other specialized equipment for that purpose, Chen said.
National Fire Agency officials said the package’s funding includes NT$8.3 billion from the central government’s discretionary funds, NT$12.5 from the general budget and NT$5.3 billion from local governments.
The burden on city and county governments would be distributed according to their financial means, they said.
A preview of the draft amendments showed that owners of a facility or venue would be responsible for alerting firefighters about hazardous material stored on-site, including special procedures required for handling these substances.
The person responsible for these sites must ensure documentation and an expert on hazardous materials can be produced at any time, the amendments said.
Failure to comply with the obligation would result in a fine of up to NT$10 million.
Businessowners whose failure to maintain fire safety in their facility resulting in death could face up to seven years in prison.
The proposed changes also include rules for rewarding whistle-blowers and stiffer penalties for breaching fire codes, with commercial entities being subject to fines of up to NT$30,000.
The draft bill would also create government organizations to protect firefighter health and safety, including a national advisory committee, a National Fire Agency-led task force and units embedded in local governments.
Fire departments and bureaus must comply with government standards on firefighting equipment or face a fine of between NT$30,000 and NT$300,000.
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