Circular No. 65/2013/TT-BCA detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTG dated October 15, 2012 of the Government Chairman regarding rescue and firefighting operations of fire prevention and firefighting forces.

CIRCULAR

Regulations detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Prime Minister regarding rescue operations.

dated October 15, 2012 of the Prime Minister regarding rescue operations.

rescue operations of fire prevention and combating forces

__________________

Pursuant to Decree No. 77/2009/NĐ-CP dated September 15, 2009 stipulating the Functions, Tasks, Authorities, and Organizational Structure of the Ministry of Public Security;

Pursuant to Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Prime Minister regarding rescue and salvage operations of firefighting forces;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Administration Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security managing public order and social security;

The Minister of Public Security issues this Circular detailing the implementation of certain provisions of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Prime Minister regarding rescue and salvage operations of firefighting forces,

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular details the implementation of certain contents of Decision No. 44/2012/QĐ-TTg dated October 15, 2012 of the Prime Minister regarding rescue and salvage operations of firefighting forces, including: Organization of rescue activities; coordination mechanisms in rescue operations and rescue equipment and facilities.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to:

1. Firefighting forces;

2. Public security units and localities;

3. Agencies, organizations, and individuals related to rescue operations.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Rescue is the activity of rescuing people in danger from hazards caused by accidents, incidents, or other risks that threaten their health and lives, including advisory measures, initial medical measures, and other measures.

2. Salvage is the activity of rescuing means of transport and property from danger or providing assistance (including towing and pushing) to means of transport in danger, carried out through the conclusion of a contract or agreement for salvage between the organization or individual performing the salvage and the organization or individual requesting the salvage.

3. Emergency Salvage emergency is the activity of salvage in cases of accidents, incidents, or other risks requiring immediate action without the need for a contract or agreement.

4. Disaster is an accident or incident causing particularly serious damage to people and property, having negative impacts and leaving long-term consequences on social life and the environment over a wide area.

Article 4. Forms and lists of equipment and facilities for rescue operations of firefighting forces

1. This Circular hereby promulgates forms to be used in rescue operations and lists of equipment and facilities for rescue operations of firefighting forces.

2. The list of equipment and facilities for rescue operations promulgated with this Circular serves as the basis for establishing standards and quotas for equipping firefighting forces.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Section 1

ORGANIZATION OF RESCUE AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS

Article 5. Information Mechanism for Rescue and Salvage Operations

Civil defense forces, grassroots firefighting forces, specialized firefighting forces, local authorities, and public security agencies at the location of the incident, upon receiving reports of incidents requiring rescue and salvage operations, must accept and process information on rescue and salvage operations; simultaneously, they must immediately report to the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police through the hotline number 114. The Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police have the responsibility to accept and process information on incidents and requests for rescue and salvage operations.

Article 6. Records and Reports on Rescue and Salvage Operations of Civil Defense Forces, Grassroots Firefighting Forces, and Specialized Firefighting Forces

Civil defense forces, grassroots firefighting forces, and specialized firefighting forces, based on their functions, tasks, requirements for rescue operations, and the nature and characteristics of their agencies, organizations, bases, and localities, propose heads of agencies, organizations, bases, and local authorities to issue regulations on records and reports on rescue and salvage operations.

1. Records of rescue and salvage operations include the following documents:

a) Regulations, internal rules, and procedures for rescue and salvage operations;

b) Guidance and directives from superiors on rescue operations;

c) Approved rescue and salvage plans;

d) Proposals and recommendations on rescue operations; decisions related to handling violations of rescue operations (if any);

đ) Logs on propaganda, training, and equipment for rescue operations;

e) Reports on incidents and accidents (that have occurred); records of rescue and salvage operations (if any);

g) Reports on rescue and salvage operations or reports summarizing and concluding on specific topics required by the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police to be supplemented to the records every six months and annually.

2. Reports on rescue and salvage operations include:

a) Reports on rescue and salvage operations;

b) Reports on rescue and salvage operations every six months and annually;

c) Summarizing and concluding reports on specific topics.

Article 7. Safety regulations, rescue and evacuation diagrams, warning signs, rescue and evacuation guidance signs of firefighting and rescue forces

Civil defense forces, grassroots firefighting and rescue forces, specialized firefighting and rescue forces shall propose to the heads of agencies, organizations, facilities, and local authorities to issue regulations on safety rules, rescue and evacuation diagrams based on their functions, tasks, rescue work requirements, and the nature and characteristics of their agencies, organizations, facilities, and localities. When issuing these regulations, they must ensure the following basic contents:

a) Rules on rescue and evacuation work when accidents occur, including prohibitions and actions to be taken during accidents; maintenance and use of rescue equipment, means, and tools;

b) Evacuation guidance diagrams including internal routes, escape routes, directions for evacuation, and shelters if necessary;

c) Safety rules and rescue and evacuation guidance diagrams must be disseminated to everyone at the location and posted in visible places for awareness and compliance.

2. Warning signs and rescue and evacuation guidance signs include: warning signs for hazardous areas or positions prone to accidents and rescue and evacuation guidance signs. Rescue and evacuation guidance signs indicate directions for safe evacuation; guidance signs for organizing rescue and evacuation work are only for rescue and evacuation personnel.

3. Regulations on warning signs and rescue and evacuation guidance signs are issued by the Ministry of Public Security. Warning signs and rescue and evacuation guidance signs are organized for printing and distribution by the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue General Department.

Article 8. Implementation Plan for Rescue and Evacuation Work of Civil Defense Forces, Grassroots Firefighting and Rescue Forces, and Specialized Firefighting and Rescue Forces

1. Annually, civil defense forces, grassroots firefighting and rescue forces, and specialized firefighting and rescue forces propose to the heads of agencies, organizations, facilities, and local authorities to develop implementation plans for rescue and evacuation work based on their functions, tasks, rescue work requirements, and the nature and characteristics of their agencies, organizations, facilities, and localities.

2. The implementation plan for rescue and evacuation work includes the following basic contents:

a) Preparation of rescue operation forces;

b) Preparation of rescue and evacuation means suitable for the specific conditions of agencies, organizations, and localities;

c) Assignment of tasks and coordination mechanisms to organize responses to possible accident scenarios;

d) Funding to ensure rescue operations;

đ) Supervision and inspection of the organization and implementation.

Article 9. Advisory Work on Rescue and Evacuation of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Forces

1. Central fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue police forces study and propose the development of strategies, planning, and plans for rescue and evacuation work, report to competent authorities for issuance, and guide, inspect, and organize implementation.

2. Directors of Provincial Fire Prevention, Firefighting Departments, and Directors of Public Security Departments of centrally governed cities study and propose the development of local planning and plans for rescue and evacuation work, report to People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities for issuance and organization of implementation.

Article 10. Development and Organization of Drills for Rescue and Evacuation Plans of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Forces

1. Rescue and evacuation plans are developed according to Model No. 01 attached as Appendix 1 to this Circular.

2. Approval authority for rescue and evacuation plans:

a) Heads of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Departments under provincial public security departments approve rescue and evacuation plans using their own forces and means within their jurisdiction; if other public security forces' resources are mobilized, the plan is approved by the Director of the provincial public security department; if resources from other agencies and organizations within the jurisdiction are mobilized, the plan is approved by the Chairman of the same-level People's Committee.

b) Heads of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Departments under provincial fire prevention and firefighting departments approve rescue and evacuation plans using their own forces and means within their jurisdiction; if other public security forces' resources and those from agencies and organizations within the jurisdiction managed by the district level are mobilized, the plan is approved by the Chairman of the same-level People's Committee.

c) Directors of provincial fire prevention and firefighting departments approve rescue and evacuation plans using forces and means from subordinate Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Departments; if other public security forces' resources and those from agencies and organizations within the province's jurisdiction are mobilized, the plan is approved by the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

d) Chiefs of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police General Department approve rescue and evacuation plans mobilizing forces and means from multiple central cities' Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Departments; if other public security forces' resources from central cities are mobilized, the plan is approved by the Minister of Public Security or his authorized representative; in special cases involving mobilization of resources from ministries and sectors, the plan is approved by the Chairman of the National Search and Rescue Committee.

3. Rescue and evacuation plans must be organized for drills according to typical scenarios with specific characteristics for each unit, facility, and locality.

Article 11. Standing rescue and emergency response forces

1. The duty commander at the Department, Division of Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue and Emergency Response must be familiar with the number of personnel, quantity of rescue and emergency response equipment currently available in the unit; the procedures for rescuing and responding to incidents and accidents; methods and measures when implementing rescue and emergency response in basic situations; plans for mobilizing forces and equipment to participate in rescue and emergency response; coordination regulations among forces during rescue and emergency response operations; roles, functions, and responsibilities of the forces when participating in rescue and emergency response; reporting and information dissemination systems when incidents requiring rescue and emergency response occur (reporting to local superiors and the Business Unit).

2. The duty commander at the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, Rescue and Emergency Response Police Team must be familiar with the contents specified in Clause 1 of this Article; the combat regulations of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting Police Force; the procedures for organizing and implementing rescue and emergency response operations; understand the features and effects of various types of rescue and emergency response equipment and safety gear for officers and soldiers in their unit and the deployment of combat formations; traffic conditions and lists of facilities with rescue and emergency response equipment and other equipment that can be mobilized for rescue and emergency response within the protected area.

3. The duty shift for rescue and emergency response must be present at the combat duty room on a regular basis, proficiently using the communication equipment of the unit, familiar with the procedures for receiving and processing information about incidents, accidents, and related matters; quickly contacting professional rescue teams, civilian defense forces, and firefighting and emergency response facilities and specialized units through telephone directories.

4. The squad leader and rescue and emergency response soldiers assigned to vehicles, boats, and rafts for rescue and emergency response must be aware of their own and their squad's duties during the duty shift; familiar with the features and effects of rescue and emergency response equipment and proficient in its use; able to coordinate and support well with positions assigned within the same combat formation and with other squads. Drivers of rescue and emergency response vehicles, boats, and rafts must be proficient in operating the equipment they are responsible for. Commanders, soldiers, and drivers assigned to dedicated equipment for rescue and emergency response must also be familiar with their duties as required above and proficient in using the rescue and emergency response equipment and devices assigned to them.

Article 12. Equipment and Means for Standing Rescue and Emergency Response

1. Mechanical rescue and emergency response equipment (excluding rescue and emergency response aircraft) and common rescue and emergency response equipment, accessories accompanying them when put into standing rescue and emergency response must meet the following requirements:

a) Rescue and emergency response vehicles, boats, rafts, and dedicated equipment for rescue and emergency response must be inspected, have valid permits for operation, and must meet the requirements for readiness for rescue and emergency response.

b) The engines of the means must start within three attempts after ignition; the engine must run smoothly at different speeds, without abnormal noise. Oil pressure, water temperature, RPM, and air pressure gauges must operate normally. Fuel, oil, and water lines must not leak, fuel and oil levels must meet the prescribed standards, the machine must not exceed 90°C in temperature; fuel and oil (fuel) must always ensure at least 80% of the tank capacity.

2. For dedicated equipment for rescue and emergency response, the features and effects according to design and the arrangement of equipment to serve rescue and emergency response must function properly and meet the required quantity of equipment.

3. For other rescue and emergency response means and equipment such as cushions, rope ladders, life-saving tubes, supporting tools, and simple demolition tools, air supply machines for gas masks, command tables, and tents for rescue and emergency response must ensure good quality and appropriate placement according to mechanical rescue and emergency response means to be promptly taken for rescue and emergency response.

Article 13. Training and professional development for rescue and firefighting operations for fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue forces

Annually, fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue forces at provincial and centrally governed city levels must be trained on rescue and firefighting operations by the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Corps at least once.

Article 14. Training and professional development for rescue and firefighting operations for other firefighting forces

1. The subjects of training and professional development for rescue and firefighting operations include:

a) Civil defense team members, grassroots fire prevention and firefighting team members, and specialized fire prevention and firefighting team members;

b) Commanders of watercraft, trains, aircraft, operators of motorized vehicles, controllers of means of transportation with 30 seats or more, and controllers of special-purpose motorized vehicles used to transport dangerous goods;

c) Workers in production and business establishments providing rescue and firefighting equipment;

d) Other subjects requiring training in rescue and firefighting operations.

2. Duration of training and professional development for rescue and firefighting operations:

a) Initial training duration for rescue and firefighting operations is from 32 to 48 hours;

b) Annual supplementary training duration for rescue and firefighting operations is a minimum of 16 hours.

3. Content of training and professional development for rescue and firefighting operations includes the following basic topics:

a) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescuing victims in fire and explosion incidents;

b) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescuing victims in river, stream, lake, pond, well, deep-water pit, tourist, entertainment, and beach accidents;

c) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescuing victims in landslides, building collapses, and construction accidents;

d) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescuing victims trapped in vehicles during traffic accidents on roads, railways, and rivers;

e) Methods, measures, techniques, and tactics for rescuing victims trapped in buildings, elevators, high places, underground pits, caves, and underground structures.

4. Issuance of "Certificate of Rescue and Firefighting Operations Training":

a) Subjects participating in rescue and firefighting operations training, upon completion of the rescue and firefighting operations training program and achieving satisfactory results in the examination, shall be issued a "Certificate of Rescue and Firefighting Operations Training" according to Model No. 02 attached as Appendix I to this Circular;

b) The "Certificate of Rescue and Firefighting Operations Training" shall be issued by the Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Corps; the Director of the Provincial Fire Prevention and Firefighting Police Department or the Head of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department of the Public Security Bureau of centrally governed cities and provinces. The blank "Certificate of Rescue and Firefighting Operations Training" shall be printed and distributed by the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Corps;

c) The "Certificate of Rescue and Firefighting Operations Training" is valid for use for five years from the date of issuance.

5. The Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Corps shall compile training materials and manuals suitable for each subject specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

6. Annually, the subjects of training and professional development for rescue and firefighting operations specified in Clause 1 of this Article must be trained on rescue and firefighting operations by the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Department at least once. The list will be updated in the tracking record specified in Point d, Clause 1 of Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 15. Propaganda for rescue and emergency response activities

1. Fire prevention, firefighting, and rescue forces shall be responsible for organizing the understanding of the situation, studying the actual circumstances of incidents and accidents, and related issues to guide and organize propaganda on rescue and emergency response; building a mass movement to participate in rescue and emergency response.

2. The heads of agencies, organizations, facilities, and local authorities shall be responsible for organizing propaganda and disseminating knowledge and laws on rescue and emergency response to cadres, employees, and the general public.

Article 16. Establishment of professional rescue teams

When there is a request to establish a Rescue Police Team, the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, the Director of the City Public Security Department under the central government, and the Director of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Department shall base their reports to the Minister of Public Security for consideration and decision on the scale and number of the team before deciding to establish a Rescue Police Team based on the characteristics of the local situation and unit.

Article 17. Benefits and policies for those participating in rescue and emergency response

Those directly involved in rescue and emergency response; those participating in rescue and emergency response who die, get injured, suffer health damage, or suffer property loss shall enjoy benefits and policies according to the provisions of the law.

Section 2

MECHANISM FOR COOPERATION IN RESCUE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Article 18. Cooperation among forces participating in rescue and emergency response

1. Responsibilities for handling incidents and accidents among forces within the People's Public Security:

a) The Protective Police Force, upon receiving a request to participate in cooperation in handling incidents and accidents, shall immediately deploy personnel and equipment to the scene to protect the area where rescue and emergency response operations are organized and carry out other tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander.

b) The Road Traffic Police Force, Railway Traffic Police Force, and Waterway Traffic Police Force, upon receiving information about incidents and accidents involving transportation vehicles, shall promptly deploy personnel and equipment to the scene to perform tasks as prescribed. In cases where incidents and accidents fall under basic situations in rescue and emergency response activities of fire prevention and fighting forces, they shall immediately report to the fire prevention and fighting forces to come and handle the situation and participate in performing tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander.

c) Other police forces, upon receiving information about incidents and accidents occurring within their jurisdiction, shall promptly arrive at the scene to carry out rescue and emergency response operations while immediately informing the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Force to timely handle the situation and perform other tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander.

2. Rescue and emergency response forces of ministries and sectors; civilian defense forces; grassroots fire prevention and fighting forces, upon receiving information or requests to participate in handling incidents and accidents, must deploy personnel and equipment to the scene to perform tasks as required by the rescue and emergency response commander.

3. Fire prevention and fighting forces, when arriving at the scene of incidents and accidents where victims need medical intervention to be safely removed, must report to the nearest healthcare facility with the necessary functions to proceed with handling according to the regulations of the healthcare sector.

Section 3

EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES FOR RESCUE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Article 19. Rescue and Salvage Equipment

1. The rescue and salvage equipment of fire prevention and firefighting forces includes motorized equipment, devices, machinery, tools, and auxiliary tools specifically used for rescue and salvage operations, which are detailed in Appendix 2 issued together with this Circular.

2. The motorized rescue and salvage equipment of fire prevention and firefighting forces includes rescue and salvage vehicles, boats, and aircraft.

3. The rescue and salvage vehicles of fire prevention and firefighting forces include vehicles equipped with specialized devices for rescue and salvage, personnel and equipment transport vehicles, ladder trucks, construction vehicles, and other motorized transportation means used for rescue and salvage purposes and to support such activities.

4. Domestic-produced or imported rescue and salvage equipment must meet technical specifications according to design requirements for rescue and salvage operations; comply with Vietnamese standards or foreign and international standards permitted for application in Vietnam.

5. New domestic-produced or imported rescue and salvage equipment must be inspected for quality, type, and model in accordance with legal regulations.

Article 20. Management and Use of Rescue and Salvage Equipment

1. The rescue and salvage equipment of fire prevention and firefighting forces must be managed, maintained, and repaired in accordance with regulations to ensure readiness for rescue and salvage operations.

In addition to being used for rescue and salvage, firefighting operations, and training and practicing rescue and firefighting plans, motorized rescue and salvage equipment may only be used in the following cases:

a) Participating in political security assurance work;

b) Participating in social order and safety assurance work;

c) Responding to natural disasters and mitigating their aftermath.

2. The Minister of Public Security or the authorized person, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province within their management scope have the authority to mobilize motorized rescue and salvage equipment for the purposes specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The Director of the Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police Bureau, the Provincial Public Security Director, and the Director of the Fire Prevention and Firefighting Department within their management scope have the authority to mobilize motorized rescue and salvage equipment for the purposes specified in points b and c of Clause 1 of this Article.

4. The head of agencies and organizations within their management scope have the authority to mobilize motorized rescue and salvage equipment for the purpose specified in point c of Clause 1 of this Article.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 21. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from January 15, 2014.

Article 22. Responsibility for enforcement

1. The Director of the Administrative Police General Corps is responsible for directing, urging, inspecting, and monitoring the implementation of this Circular.

2. The Directors of the General Corpses, heads of units under the Ministry, Provincial Public Security Directors, and Directors of Fire Prevention and Firefighting Departments shall coordinate with the Administrative Police General Corps to implement this Circular in accordance with their functions and tasks.

3. It is recommended that the heads of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, governmental agencies, provincial people's committees, and centrally-administered city people's committees cooperate with the Ministry of Public Security within their functions, powers, and jurisdiction in managing and supervising the rescue and salvage activities of other fire prevention and firefighting forces under their respective agencies and organizations.

4. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, they should be reported to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Administrative Police General Corps) for timely guidance.