Circular No. 08/2018/TT-BCA provides detailed regulations on certain provisions of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2017 regarding rescue and firefighting operations of fire prevention and firefighting forces.

CIRCULAR
Detailed regulations on certain provisions of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP regarding rescue and firefighting operations
dated July 18, 2017 concerning rescue and firefighting operations
 of firefighting forces

Pursuant to the Fire Prevention and Fighting Law dated June 29, 2001, amended and supplemented by the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Law dated November 22, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the Fire Prevention and Fighting Law);

Pursuant to Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2017 concerning rescue and firefighting operations of firefighting forces (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP);

Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2014/NĐ-CP dated November 17, 2014, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;

Pursuant to the proposal of the Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department;

The Minister of Public Security promulgates this Circular detailing certain provisions of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2017 concerning rescue and firefighting operations of firefighting forces.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the deployment of forces, number of personnel on standby for rescue and firefighting operations; contents, training programs, inspection conditions for safety assurance, guidance on preventing accidents, coordination among participating forces in rescue and firefighting operations; uniforms, flag standards, signboards, bands used, management files, monitoring activities of rescue and firefighting operations, and statistical reporting systems of firefighting forces.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to:

Article 1. Firefighting forces shall carry out rescue and firefighting operations.

2. Public security units and localities.

Article 3. Subjects related to rescue and firefighting operations of firefighting forces.

Chapter II
SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Article 3. Deployment of Rescue and Firefighting Police Forces

Clause 1. Requirements for deploying Rescue and Firefighting Police Forces

Point a) Ensuring sufficient standing forces ready for rescue and firefighting operations 24/7 and replacement forces;

Point b) Ensuring specialization and professionalism;

Point c) Being deployed at public security units and localities in accordance with Article 25 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP.

Clause 2. In cases where they are deployed as Rescue and Firefighting Police Departments, Teams, or Groups, the authority to establish such Departments, Teams, or Groups shall be carried out according to the decision of the Minister of Public Security.

Article 4. Standby for Rescue and Firefighting Operations

Clause 1. For the Rescue and Firefighting Police Force, the standby for rescue and firefighting operations shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 50/2017/TT-BCA dated November 1, 2017 of the Minister of Public Security on the readiness for firefighting and rescue operations of the Rescue and Firefighting Police Force.

Clause 2. For grassroots firefighting forces, specialized firefighting forces, the number of personnel on standby for rescue and firefighting operations shall be decided by the head of the entity but must ensure positions for receiving, processing information, controlling vehicles, and performing rescue and firefighting tasks.

Clause 3. For civilian defense forces, when mobilized for standby for rescue and firefighting operations, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune shall decide the number of personnel on standby.

Article 5. Guidance on Preventing Accidents and Incidents for Houses, Structures, Vehicles, and Equipment

Clause 1. Civilian defense forces, grassroots firefighting forces, specialized firefighting forces shall base their functions, tasks, requirements for rescue and firefighting operations, and the characteristics of the locality to propose the heads of agencies, organizations, entities, and local authorities to issue internal regulations, evacuation diagrams, specifically:

Point a) Internal regulations on rescue and firefighting operations include: Prohibited actions; actions to take when incidents occur; maintenance and use of rescue equipment, vehicles, and tools;

Point b) Evacuation diagrams include internal routes, escape routes, directions for evacuation, and shelters if necessary.

Clause 2. Warning signs and directional signs in rescue and firefighting operations include: Warning signs for hazardous areas prone to incidents; directional signs for rescue and firefighting operations; directional signs for areas organizing rescue and firefighting operations reserved only for rescue and firefighting personnel.

The Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department shall provide guidelines on warning and directional sign models in rescue and firefighting operations.

Clause 3. Internal regulations, evacuation diagrams, warning signs, and directional signs for rescue and firefighting operations must be widely disseminated and posted in visible places so that everyone can see and comply with them.

Article 6. Inspection of Conditions Ensuring Safety for Rescue and Relief Operations of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police

1. The Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police shall conduct inspections of conditions ensuring safety for rescue and relief operations in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 12 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP.

Inspections of conditions ensuring safety for rescue and relief operations at facilities shall be combined with inspections of fire prevention and firefighting safety; for other cases, inspections of conditions ensuring safety for rescue and relief operations shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Responsibilities for Regular and Spot Inspections

a) Persons responsible for regular inspections must notify the inspected entity three working days in advance about the time, content, and composition of the inspection team.

b) Persons responsible for spot inspections must clearly inform the inspected entity of the reasons for the inspection. When conducting spot inspections, officers of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police must present an introduction letter from their direct managing authority.

c) The inspected entity must prepare all inspection contents that have been notified and arrange authorized and responsible persons to work with the inspection team.

3. Inspection records of conditions ensuring safety for rescue and relief operations must be documented in Form No. 03 issued together with Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP.

Article 7. Programs and Contents of Training and Refresher Courses on Rescue and Relief Operations for Civil Defense Forces, Basic Fire Prevention and Firefighting Units, and Specialized Fire Prevention and Firefighting Units

1. The program for refresher courses and training on rescue and relief operations includes the following basic contents:

a) General issues regarding rescue and relief operations of civil defense forces, basic fire prevention and firefighting units, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting units;

b) Refresher courses and training on specialized rescue and relief operations according to situations specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP;

c) Features, functions, and usage methods of common rescue and relief equipment, means, and tools;

d) In-depth training tailored to the specific characteristics of the trainees;

đ) Initial first aid techniques;

e) Final examination of the training course.

2. Contents of refresher courses and training on rescue and relief operations include the following basic topics:

a) Legal knowledge on rescue and relief operations, including Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP and its implementing regulations, and other relevant legal documents;

b) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescue and relief operations in certain situations specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP.

3. The Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau compiles training materials suitable for each category of trainees as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 11 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP.

4. The model "Certificate of Training in Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Operations" is organized for printing and distribution by the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau.

Article 8. Programs, Contents, and Duration of Refresher Courses and Training on Rescue and Relief Operations for Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police

1. The program for refresher courses and training on rescue and relief operations includes the following basic contents:

a) General issues concerning rescue and relief operations of fire prevention and firefighting units as prescribed in Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP;

b) Refresher courses and in-depth training on specialized rescue and relief operations according to situations specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP;

c) Features, functions, usage methods, and applications of various rescue and relief equipment, means, and tools;

d) In-depth training tailored to the specific characteristics of the trainees;

đ) Initial first aid techniques;

e) Final examination of the training course.

2. Contents of refresher courses and training on rescue and relief operations include the following basic topics:

a) Legal knowledge on rescue and relief operations, including Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP and its implementing regulations, and other relevant legal documents;

b) State management of rescue and relief operations;

c) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescue and relief operations in situations specified in Clause 1 of Article 5 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP;

d) Other contents as required by competent authorities.

3. Duration of Refresher Courses and Training on Rescue and Relief Operations:

Annually, Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police personnel undergo refresher courses and training on rescue and relief operations as follows:

a) For leaders at the Department level: 200 hours;

b) For commanders of Rescue and Relief Police Teams: 300 hours;

c) For Team Leaders, Deputy Team Leaders, and Team Members of Rescue and Relief Police Teams: 400 hours.

Article 9. Documents for managing and monitoring rescue and emergency response activities of facilities and other entities as prescribed by law

1. The documents for managing and monitoring rescue and emergency response activities include:

a) Regulations, internal rules, procedures, directives, and guidance on rescue and emergency response;

b) Layout diagrams of technological systems, technical equipment, and materials at risk of accidents at the facility; layout diagrams of areas prone to accidents;

c) Decisions on establishing civilian defense teams, fire prevention and firefighting teams of the facility, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting teams; lists of personnel assigned to perform rescue and emergency response tasks;

d) Approved rescue and emergency response plans of the facility; reports on organizing drills of rescue and emergency response plans;

đ) Inspection records on fire prevention, firefighting, rescue, and emergency response; proposals and recommendations regarding rescue and emergency response work;

e) Logs tracking propaganda, training, and professional instruction on rescue and emergency response; activities of civilian defense teams, fire prevention and firefighting teams of the facility, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting teams; logs tracking rescue and emergency response equipment;

g) Statistics and reports on rescue and emergency response; files on accident incidents and related documents (if any);

2. The documents for managing and monitoring rescue and emergency response activities for facilities are combined with the documents for managing and monitoring fire prevention and firefighting activities.

Article 10. Statistics and Reports on Rescue and Emergency Response

1. Statistics on rescue and emergency response include:

a) Statistics on inspections, propaganda, training, and handling violations concerning fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue and emergency response;

b) Lists of officers and members of civilian defense teams, fire prevention and firefighting teams of the facility, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting teams;

c) Statistics on rescue and emergency response equipment and tools;

d) Statistics on time spent studying and practicing rescue and emergency response plans; number of rescue and emergency response incidents, rescue and emergency response operations, and other relevant contents related to rescue and emergency response activities;

đ) Statistics on participation in rescue and emergency response training by officers and members of civilian defense teams, fire prevention and firefighting teams of the facility, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting teams;

2. Reports on rescue and emergency response include:

a) Reports on accident incidents;

b) Periodic reports on rescue and emergency response operations (six months, one year);

c) Interim and final reports on specialized rescue and emergency response operations;

3. Statistics and reports on rescue and emergency response are conducted concurrently with statistics and reports on fire prevention and firefighting. Periodic statistics and reports on rescue and emergency response must be submitted to the superior authority directly managing the entity. In cases where there are changes affecting the safety of preventing accidents, the entity must promptly notify the directly managing Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force.

Article 11. Coordination Among Forces Participating in Rescue and Emergency Response

1. Responsibilities for coordinating in handling accidents among forces within the People's Public Security

a) When receiving requests to participate in coordination in handling accidents, the Mobile Police Force immediately deploys forces and equipment to the scene to protect the area organized for rescue and emergency response and performs other tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander;

b) Upon receiving reports of accidents involving transportation vehicles, the Traffic Police Force promptly deploys forces and equipment to the scene to carry out tasks as prescribed. In situations where accidents fall under basic scenarios in fire prevention and firefighting rescue and emergency response operations, they immediately report to the fire prevention and firefighting force to handle the situation and participate in performing tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander;

c) Other public security forces, upon receiving reports of accidents occurring within their jurisdiction, promptly proceed to the scene to conduct rescue and emergency response operations, while simultaneously informing the nearest Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force to promptly handle the situation and perform other tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander;

2. When the fire prevention and firefighting force arrives at the scene of an accident involving casualties that require medical intervention before safely evacuating the victims, they must immediately inform the nearest healthcare agency capable of handling the situation according to health sector regulations.

Article 12. Rescue and emergency response uniforms for civilian defense forces, grassroots fire prevention and firefighting forces, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting forces

The rescue and emergency response uniforms for civilian defense forces, grassroots fire prevention and firefighting forces, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting forces shall be firefighting uniforms as prescribed by the Minister of Public Security regarding firefighting uniforms for civilian defense forces, grassroots fire prevention and firefighting forces, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting forces.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Flags, signs, and bands used in rescue and emergency response operations

1. The accompanying Circular sets forth the specifications for flags, signs, and bands used in rescue and emergency response operations, including:

a) Specifications for rescue and emergency response flags, and command post rescue and emergency response flags (Annex 1);

b) Specifications for rescue and emergency response command bands (Annex 2);

c) Specifications for warning signs and boundary tape for rescue and emergency response areas (Annex 3);

d) Specifications for rescue and emergency response area warning signs (Annex 4).

2. The production costs for flags, signs, and bands used in rescue and emergency response operations shall be covered from the regular operating budget allocated by the Ministry of Public Security to the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Administration Bureau and local public security agencies.

3. Organizations and individuals not benefiting from state budget funds shall ensure their own funding to equip warning signs and boundary tape for rescue and emergency response areas, as well as rescue and emergency response area warning signs specified in points c and d of Clause 1 of this Article, for use in rescue and emergency response operations.

Article 14. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from April 25, 2018, and replaces Circular No. 65/2013/TT-BCA dated November 26, 2013, issued by the Minister of Public Security detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012, of the Prime Minister.

2. Certificates of fire prevention and firefighting training, inspection reports on fire prevention and firefighting as stipulated in Circular No. 66/2014/TT-BCA dated December 16, 2014, issued by the Minister of Public Security detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 79/2014/NĐ-CP dated July 31, 2014, providing detailed regulations for the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting shall be implemented according to point b and point c of Clause 1 of Article 43 of Decree No. 83/2017/NĐ-CP.

Article 15. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Administration Bureau shall be responsible for guiding, directing, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. Local public security units and organizations and individuals related thereto shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

During the implementation of this Circular, if there are difficulties or obstacles, local public security units, agencies, organizations, and individuals shall report to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Administration Bureau) for timely guidance.

 

ANNEX
SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRIORITY SIGNALS AND SIGNALS
 USED IN RESCUE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE OPERATIONS
(Issued together with Circular No. 08/2018/TT-BCA dated March 5, 2018, of the Minister of Public Security)
Annex 1: Specifications for rescue and emergency response flags, and command post rescue and emergency response flags

1. Priority flag for rescue and emergency response vehicles: A flag with a blue background, yellow border, gold lettering, gold arrow, and made of shiny polyester fabric (twill) sewn with borders.

2. Command post rescue and emergency response flag: A flag with a blue background, yellow border, gold lettering, and made of shiny polyester fabric (twill) sewn with borders.

Annex 2:

 

Specifications for rescue and emergency response command bands  Rescue and emergency response command bands have a red background, yellow border, gold lettering, and are made of shiny polyester fabric (twill) sewn with borders.

Annex 3: Specifications for warning signs and boundary tape for rescue and emergency response areas

 

1. Warning sign for dangerous areas: A sign with a red border, yellow background, and red lettering.

2. Boundary tape and base for delineating rescue and emergency response areas:

a) Boundary tape for rescue and emergency response areas: Tape with a red background, yellow border, and gold lettering.

b) Base for delineating rescue and emergency response areas: Made of plastic, black base, red and yellow body.

Annex 4: Specifications for rescue and emergency response area warning signs

 

"5. The pre-tax weighted average cost of capital i (%) is determined according to the formula below:Rescue and emergency response area warning signs have a red border, yellow background, and red lettering.

The rescue area sign has a red border, a yellow background, and red letters.