The requirement for a rescue plan depends on the premises. A rescue plan must be drawn up, among others:

1. residential buildings with at least three apartments,
2. workplaces where at least 50 people are usually present at the same time,
3. shopping centers and similar premises, as well as stores over 400 square meters,
4. restaurants and similar premises with more than 50 customer seats,
5. industrial, production, and warehouse buildings over 1500 square meters,
6. public events where at least 200 people are present at the same time.

The complete list of premises for which a rescue plan is required can be found on our website and in the Government Decree (5.5.2011/407).

The scope of a rescue plan always depends on the specific premises, but according to the Rescue Act, the rescue plan should contain at least:

1. an assessment of hazards and risks;
2. the safety arrangements of the building and facilities used for the activities;
3. instructions for preventing accidents for those who use the premises and instructions on what to do in case of an accident or an incident;
4. any other measures related to the self-preparedness on the premises.

SPEK provides clear rescue plan guides for residential buildings and workplaces, and the rescue department’s website offers a guide for preparing a rescue plan for public events. Additionally, you can familiarize yourself with the rescue plan checklist compiled by our experts which can make updating the rescue plan easier.

According to the law, the rescue plan must always be kept up to date. Therefore, the rescue plan should be updated whenever there are changes related to the rescue plan, such as alterations to escape routes or changes in safety personnel.

The preparation and maintenance of the rescue plan are the responsibility of the owner or holder of the property, or operator using property or area. In housing companies, the rescue plan may be the responsibility of a designated safety officer or team, the housing company’s board, or the property manager. In other premises, the rescue plan is usually the responsibility of a designated safety officer or officers, such as the property safety manager.

A rescue plan is prepared to ensure the safety of people living, working, visiting, or otherwise present in a property or other premises. The rescue plan is made so that the users of the premises learn to recognize safe operating procedures. When it is clear to all users how to act in the premises, daily fire safety and actions in case of an accident become smoother.

The scope of application of the Rescue Act can also be considered a pillar for the preparation of a rescue plan:

The Rescue Act stipulates the obligations of individuals, companies, and other communities and legal entities to:

1. prevent fires and other accidents;
2. prepare for accidents and act when accidents threaten or occur;
3. limit the consequences of accidents;
4. build and maintain civil defense shelters;
5. participate in rescue operations and civil defense training.

In everyday use, the terms rescue plan and safety plan may be used interchangeably. However, a safety plan refers to a broader concept than an rescue plan, and the rescue plan is usually a part of this broader safety plan. A safety plan can include, in addition to the rescue plan, crisis communication guidelines or information security practices.

A digital or electronic rescue plan refers to an rescue plan that has been converted into a digital format. Typically, an electronic rescue plan is just a paper rescue plan converted into a PDF format, but a digital rescue plan can also include interactive features that a paper or PDF version does not support. For example, it is easier to include illustrative images, instructional videos, and other elements that facilitate understanding of the rescue plan in a digital version.

A digital or electronic rescue plan is as legal as a paper version of the rescue plan. However, compliance with the law and regulations depends on the content of the rescue plan. The most important thing is to create the rescue plan for its end users, not just for authorities – regardless of the presentation format of the rescue plan.

The rescue plan should outline all the risks and hazards related to the property in question. These can include general risks that apply to all properties, such as fires, accidents, electrical faults, water damage, malfunctions of elevators and other equipment, as well as natural disasters like floods and storms. Potential violence, threatening individuals and situations can also be considered risks that apply to all properties. 

In addition, it is important to consider specific risks influenced by the site’s activities and other characteristics. Specific risks vary depending on whether the site is a residential property, office building, industrial facility, public space, or event venue. Specific risks may be caused by chemicals, various machines or equipment, or large numbers of people. 

Besides identifying these risks, the severity of the risks must be assessed, and preparedness for accident risks should be demonstrated. It is also important to define clear operating instructions for various danger and emergency situations in the rescue plan. 

Distributing the rescue plan is an essential part of a property’s safety practices. By law, the rescue plan must be communicated to both the property users and the necessary authorities. It is important that all users of the property, such as employees, visitors, residents, and stakeholders, are aware of the plan’s content and emergency instructions. 

You can distribute/inform about the content of the rescue plan using the following methods: 

• training sessions 
• printed copies on bulletin boards 
• email 
• intranet site 
• link to the digital rescue plan 

The most important thing is to ensure that the rescue plan is easily accessible, and that the information is understandable to everyone. This ensures that property users are aware of the site’s safety practices and know how to act in accidents if necessary. 

The obligation to prepare an internal rescue plan is based on the European Union Council Directive 2012/18/EU (Seveso III Directive). An operator must prepare an internal rescue plan for a production facility if the industrial handling and storage of hazardous chemicals are extensive. 

The industrial handling and storage of hazardous chemicals are considered extensive if the quantity of hazardous chemicals at the production facility exceeds certain thresholds or calculated ratios. Information on threshold quantities and ratios is provided in the Government Decree on the Handling and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals (685/2015). 

The scope of the internal rescue plan always depends on the specific site being reviewed. However, in accordance with the Government Decree on the Handling and Storage of Hazardous Chemicals (685/2015), the internal rescue plan should at least include: 

1. List and description of the duties of the personnel authorized to initiate emergency response operations and those responsible for the internal emergency response of the facility, as well as the person responsible for communicating with the authorities responsible for the external rescue plan. 
2. Description of the actions in every foreseeable situation or event that could significantly increase the risk of a major accident. This description should also include information about the safety equipment and resources available. 
3. Measures to limit the dangers to people in the area, including details of alarm systems and instructions for acting in an emergency situation. 
4. Procedures for promptly notifying the authorities responsible for the external rescue plan in the event of an accident. 
5. Methods for training personnel for their duties and, where necessary, coordinating this activity with external rescue services. 
6. Methods for supporting rescue operations outside the area of the facility. 
7. Assessment of the effects of accidents on areas outside the production facility. 

The Safety and Chemicals Agency has prepared a comprehensive Tukes guide (in Finnish) to assist in the preparation of an internal rescue plan.