{"title":"Legal Dimension of the Protection of Critical Infrastructure – Selected Aspects","authors":"Łukasz Roman, Krzysztof Cygańczuk","doi":"10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.10","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: As part of this article, an attempt was made to present the legislative process in Poland regarding critical infrastructure, for which valid is the Act of 26 April 2007 on crisis management, specifying, inter alia, authorities competent in crisis management and their tasks and principles of operation in this area as well as implementing acts issued on its basis. The introduced legal regulations define both the concept of critical infrastructure, its protection and activities related to the prevention of crisis situations, reacting in the event of their occurrence and preparation to take control over them, as well as removing their effects and recreating key resources. Introduction: Regulations concerning the protection of critical infrastructure are included in legal acts covering various areas of the country’s functioning, including telecommunications activities, production and trade in fuels and electricity, performance of defence tasks by entrepreneurs, creation of strategic reserves, powers of the minister competent for the State Treasury in some companies, protection of persons and the property. The protection of critical infrastructure is related to the raison d’état, which indicates the need to make special efforts to protect the country’s key infrastructure. Therefore, it is reasonable to present selected legal elements needed to protect critical infrastructure, especially those issues that ensure the continuity of the operation of public administration bodies, which are to ensure the safety of the citizens. Methodology: The article was prepared based on the analysis of the literature on the subject and the analysis of legal acts in the area of strengthening the concept of critical infrastructure, taking into account the current situation related to the pandemic and, consequently, the loss of some officers and employees. During the analysis of the conducted research, compact publications, acts of Polish law as well as guidelines and recommendations published on the websites of governmental institutions were used. Conclusions: In the protection of critical infrastructure, there is a need to introduce legal regulations within the framework of cooperation between institutions. The preparation of effective activities in the area of critical infrastructure requires a comprehensive approach, including: physical, technical, personal, ICT, legal protection, as well as assistance from the government in the reconstruction of the damaged element. Each of the areas mentioned above is a complex set of activities requiring general and specialist knowledge, sometimes expert knowledge, extensive practical experience (using the so-called good practices), risk analysis skills, and risk prediction (profiling). Keywords: act on crisis management, legal acts, crisis management, protection of critical infrastructure, identification Type of article: review article","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"39 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117118824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rescue and Firefighting Operations During Incidents Involving Vehicles with Alternative Propulsion. Electric Vehicles","authors":"Jacek Zboina","doi":"10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"53 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124158575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of Important Factors Having an Impact on Safety in Road Tunnels – Research Findings","authors":"N. Schmidt-Polończyk","doi":"10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.4","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: This article presents relevant safety issues in road tunnels based on the results of a survey and evacuation experiments conducted on real scale in two existing road tunnels in Poland. Project and methods: An analysis of the relevant factors influencing the level of safety in road tunnels was carried out based on the results of experi - mental studies in two road tunnels in which the course of evacuation under fire conditions was observed. As part of the study, several evacuation trials were carried out at equal smoke levels, examining a different parameter each time: pre-movement time, speed of movement, the effect of smoke on the speed of movement, the effect of tunnel infrastructure on evacuation, among others. A survey carried out among 504 respondents, in turn, attempted to assess the awareness of hazards and safety procedures in road tunnels. The survey has four parts and questions covered the following issues: knowl - edge of tunnel infrastructure, behaviour in case of congestion, choice of evacuation route, behaviour during the evacuation, personal belongings during the evacuation, self-assessment of tunnel safety knowledge and the role of experience. An analysis was also carried out of the information available in Poland on safety guidelines for road tunnels, which can help tunnel users to improve their knowledge on tunnel safety. Results: The survey results indicate an insufficient level of knowledge regarding safety in road tunnels – only 16% of respondents answered more than 50% of the questions correctly. Ignorance of road tunnel infrastructure itself and the safety rules for the tunnel was also diagnosed. An analysis of the information available to the road users demonstrates that this information is difficult to access and that there is a lack of uniform guidelines to educate the public on the topic raised in the article. A significant impact of evacuation exercises carried out on an accurate scale was emphasised, providing valuable data on the evacuation process and increasing the level of safety in the engineering facilities analysed by raising the awareness of the partici - pants in the experiment. Conclusions: The research findings presented in this article allow for better understanding of the behaviour of the participants of accidents and fires in road tunnels. In addition, the need to raise the awareness of the road users on the dangerous situations that may occur in a tunnel and the appropriate response to them has been demonstrated. Keywords: safety, fire, smoke, evacuation, road tunnel Type of article: original science article","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128936818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tomasz Popielarczyk, Mariusz Sobecki, J. Pacuk, Tyberiusz Frymus
{"title":"Emergency Voice Communication Systems – Analysis of Normative and Legal Documents","authors":"Tomasz Popielarczyk, Mariusz Sobecki, J. Pacuk, Tyberiusz Frymus","doi":"10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125775795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Cost of Maintaining a Fire Station Transferred to the Volunteer Fire Department by the Local Municipality on a Loan Basis","authors":"Dariusz Kała","doi":"10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.10","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125547496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of the Problem of False Fire Alarms Generated by Fire Alarm Systems in Poland and Other Selected Countries","authors":"M. Pietrzak, Michał Chmiel, Mariusz Feltynowski","doi":"10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.60.2.2022.6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123183712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of the Costs of Preventive Works Concerning Fire Hazard on the Example of Selected Longwalls of Two Mining Companies","authors":"D. Musioł","doi":"10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.11","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The article aims to present and evaluate the costs of preventive works carried out in 16 selected longwall panels in the mines of two coal mining com- panies. The article is based on the analysis of data made available by the companies, which the author has properly prepared to enable their comparison. Introduction: Fires occurring in coal mines are one of the more frequent technical hazards. Consequently, the mine’s ventilation departments are re- sponsible for carrying out preventive measures to limit and minimise the fire risk. The danger of a fire in mine workings is connected not only with the possibility of exogenic fire, which is influenced by external factors such as machine and equipment failures, short-circuits in electrical installations or the possibility of a fire on transport routes, but also with endogenic fire, which the low-temperature oxidation of coal may cause with the remains left in long- wall caving. The costs of prevention depend on the method of ventilation of the longwall faces and the coal’s susceptibility to spontaneous combustion. Methodology: The costs of coal mining are very high. They are related to the increasingly difficult mining conditions, which are influenced mainly by the increasing depth of exploitation and the increase in natural and technical hazards during mining work. The costs of mining within a longwall area are usually divided into the costs of starting up the longwall, its exploitation and liquidation. Within this division, more detailed cost analyses are rarely conducted. As part of the research conducted since 2015, ways of cost assessment were developed on the basis of appropriately prepared cost tables for various natural and technical hazards occurring within the ventilation hazards presented in the example discussed in the article. Based on the analyses of unit costs of fire hazard prevention elements obtained in coal companies and the developed cost tables, the costs of prevention works were compiled. The costs of prevention works were evaluated and compared for 16 longwall faces using the elaborated indices. Conclusions: Correctly applied fire hazard prevention in hard coal mines is one of the main elements of maintaining functional safety. Costs of hazard prevention in mines were usually compared together with the costs of exploitation, longwall equipment, media and crew working days. Cost tables were developed as part of the research to allow for cost assessment and determination of fire prevention cost indices. Keywords: coal mining, fire hazard, preventive work, cost of preventive work Type of article: review article","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130182258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Methodology of Threat Assessment of Municipalities and Districts","authors":"P. Janik","doi":"10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.8","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The aim of the article is to discuss theoretical and practical aspects of the emergence and use of the method of assessment of threat occurring in areas of particular municipalities and districts in the activities of organizational units of the State Fire Service. One of the reasons for returning to this topic is the modification of the method finalized last year, in order to include within it another factor of fire danger, which are non-forest terrestrial eco- systems. Moreover, updates in this area have been made to allow those who have not previously had the opportunity to learn about the subject matter. Introduction: Last year, a new regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 17 September 2021 on the detailed organization of the national rescue and firefighting system (Polish Journal of Laws: Dz.U. 2021 poz. 1737) came into force. In relation to the content of the previously existing regulation, it has changed the methodology on how to assess the risks that may occur on the area of the district and the province, in which the analysis is subject to risk factors occurring respectively in the areas of individual municipalities, making their subsequent aggregation at the level of the districts. Taking into account the fact that it has been ten years since the original inclusion of this tool in the regulations on the functioning of the national rescue and firefighting system (KSRG), it is considered a good moment to share with the readers some of the author’s reflections on both theoretical and practical aspects of its creation and application in the activities of organizational units of the State Fire Service. Methodology: The paper uses the results of the author’s own work in creating the aforementioned hazard assessment method, based on the theoretical foundation of hazard analysis and risk assessment. Fire experience was also used, including data analysis of incidents that occurred. Conclusions: As a result of the carried out work, a method of assessment of hazards occurring in individual municipalities and districts was created, implemented in 2011, used for the preparation and annual update of district and provincial rescue plans. In practice, its results are directly applicable in the process of determining standards of additional equipment for district and city fire stations of the State Fire Service, requirements for the organization of specialized rescue groups and methodology of building a plan for the network of volunteer fire departments to be included in the national and rescue firefighting system. Ten years of using this method and its recent extension with a new risk factor are the reasons to formulate the thesis that it has been positively verified in terms of practical usefulness of its results. There is also a possibility of its further improvement, e.g. in the context of introducing additional tools that could increase the quality of the obtained results, e.g. enabling its stronger connection with","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114163069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Basis of functioning and Forms and Nature of Activity of Research Institutes","authors":"M. Wyszomirska","doi":"10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.9","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The aim of the article is to discuss issues related to both the legal status and the location of research institutes in the economic and scientific space. The special nature of the activity of institutes consisting in the duality of public and commercial purposes causes that in doctrine and jurisprudence there are discussions and disputes as to the unambiguous definition of the nature of the activity of the institutes. This publication analyses and points to the public-commercial nature of the business. Regardless of the public mission and the possibility to receive subsidies from the state budget, the institutes are, after all, self-financing entities registered in the National Court Register, excluded from the catalogue of entities of the public finance sector. They cover their operating costs from the generated revenue and carry out their business activities as entrepreneurs, responsible for their own liabilities. Introduction: The development of science is the foundation of technical and social progress and a source of dynamic economic growth. Without sci entific and research activities, it is difficult to imagine the development of civilisation, which, in its present form of technological advancement, requires in-depth scientific knowledge. In the Polish system of higher education and science, one of the organisational and legal forms of conducting scientific and research activity are research institutes, which play a large role in stimulating the growth of innovation in the Polish economy, regardless of the category assigned to them by the legislator. Methodology: The paper uses theoretical research methods, including an analysis of the provisions of the Act on Research Institutes, the Act on Higher Education and Science and the Act on Public Finance. The publication also reviews literature and common court judgments. Conclusions: In the Polish system of higher education and science one of the organisational and legal forms of conducting scientific and research activity are research institutes, whose legal status and scope of activity is regulated by the Act of 30 April 2010 on Research Institutes (Polish Journal of Laws: Dz.U. 2020 poz. 1383). This publication discusses the legal basis and forms of operation of research institutes, pointing to the public-commercial nature of their activities, which results from the legal status, scope of responsibility or financial independence of research institutes.","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116969406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chemical Safety of Poland and the European Union and the Activities of the National Tax Administration","authors":"Andrzej Puka, Krzysztof Cygańczuk","doi":"10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12845/sft.59.1.2022.6","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: This article attempts to present the issues related to the strengthening of chemical, ecological and environmental safety as an essential component of the safety of citizens and the activities of public authorities, on the example of the activities of the National Tax Administration. Introduction: Currently, over 100 thou. chemical products are used in production and consumption. Therefore, ensuring chemical safety is a priority, taking into account the fact that further civilization development determines maintaining this number at a similar or higher level, which enables greater mobility of societies, as well as providing food for a mass growing population. We encounter illegal activities involving the use of chemicals almost every day, which is an increasing threat to international security and peace in the world, further escalating hybrid threats. Chemical safety is essential for eco- logical safety, it guarantees the necessary cleanliness of the environment, and moreover, it is inextricably linked with the health safety of the societies. Ensuring chemical safety and compliance with the environmental protection standards is one of the objectives of the National Tax Administration, which translates directly into the protection of Poland’s borders against environmental, chemical and general international security threats. Methodology: The work includes a synthetic review of basic literature based on guidelines, regulations and directives, both national and European. The current achievements in the area of chemical safety applied in national bodies and the implementation of EU legal acts for the security of Poland were summarized. Conclusions: Based on the analysis and synthesis of the literature review, the effectiveness of the activities of customs and tax authorities in Poland and the European Union in ensuring chemical and environmental safety was assessed. The role of Poland as a border country exposed to smuggling from the eastern direction deserves special attention. Keywords: chemical safety, National Tax Administration (KAS), REACH, CLP, PIC Type of article: review article","PeriodicalId":113945,"journal":{"name":"Safety & Fire Technology","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127754940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}