Belarus’ Industrial Safety Inspectorate Granted Oversight Powers Over Explosives Production

Aliaksandr Lukashenka has signed a decree “On Fire Safety” approving new general requirements for the maintenance and operation of buildings, structures, isolated premises and other facilities owned by business entities.

The new rules remove a number of excessive and outdated requirements relating to the maintenance of buildings, firefighting equipment, technological processes and documentation.

Under the decree, the State Industrial Safety Inspectorate of Belarus’ Ministry for Emergency Situations has been granted supervisory authority over legal entities engaged in the production of explosives and explosive-containing products, including their manufacture, storage, transportation and destruction. As the Lukashenka press service said, the measure is intended to streamline industrial safety oversight and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.

In addition, the Ministry for Emergency Situations has been assigned responsibility for coordinating the activities of the youth public organization of rescue firefighters.