Regulatory compliance is the cornerstone of a process for managing and preventing industrial risks. Indeed, regulatory compliance is a key factor in improving industrial safety.
Cependant, entre l’inflation réglementaire, la complexité des textes, et le double niveau de réglementation (français et européen), la conformité réglementaire constitue un véritable labyrinthe pour les industriels, en particulier en ce qui concerne les ICPE (Installations Classées pour la Protection de l’Environnement).
In fact, industries—and specifically ICPEs—are regulated based on their activities and level of hazard (type and quantity of products):
- Uncategorized
- Statement
- Declaration with verification
- Registration
- Authorization
- Permit with conditions (SEVESO low-threshold/SEVESO high-threshold)
The complexity also stems from the need to adhere to a very specific timeline for the implementation of regulatory provisions. Compliance is regularly monitored by the French government (DREAL), which may, in the event of a deviation from regulations, specify corrective measures depending on the severity of the deviation (minor or major non-compliance, formal notice, suspension of operations), potentially accompanied by a fine.
C’est là que l’expertise Gesip peut être utile aux industriels en leur proposant un accompagnement dans la conformité réglementaire de leurs installations.
Regulatory Compliance Audit Organization
With 70 years of experience, Gesip is a community of experts dedicated to advancing the safety of people and facilities within the industry through consulting, auditing, and training initiatives aimed at improving industrial risk management.
In this capacity, Gesip assists companies in ensuring their facilities comply with regulatory requirements:
- Regulatory compliance audit and mock audit,
- Guidance on the new regulations,
- Regulatory monitoring,
- Preparing for the DREAL inspection,
- Post-inspection follow-up…
Gesip’s expertise and impartiality have helped establish its credibility as a leading authority in the field of industrial safety. Deeply involved in numerous working groups alongside industry representatives, Gesip regularly contributes to the development of regulatory changes, such as those following the 2019 Rouen accident, and its new requirements regarding Internal Operation Plans (IOPs). This collaborative process, which involves industry representatives, results in regulations that are more in tune with on-the-ground realities.
Les textes réglementaires s’avèrent de plus en plus denses et longs sans pour autant se suffirent à eux-mêmes pour leur application. Ainsi, Gesip et les groupes de travail associés élaborent des guides reconnus par l’administration. Les industriels se conformant aux guides sont présumés en conformité avec la réglementation, ceux qui ne s’y conforment pas devant justifier des mesures prises pour se conformer à l’arrêté.
See also:Training on industrial chemical hazards
Regulatory compliance, support, and expertise from Gesip
Post-Rouen regulatory compliance, drafting and review of internal operating procedures (POI), safety information sheets (PSI), and emergency plans
Regulatory compliance involves, among other things, adherence to requirements regarding regulatory documents—operational decision-making tools that can be used internally and by external emergency responders in the event of an incident: Internal Operations Plan (POI), Safety and Response Plan (PSI), or emergency plan.
The need for an emergency response plan generally arises from changes to a facility’s regulatory status or from stricter regulations, such as those introduced in 2019 following the Rouen accident. As a result, all SEVESO facilities—both low- and high-threshold—must now have an operational emergency response plan.
These documents must be reviewed at the intervals specified by law, or following requests from the authorities due to deficiencies, gaps, or regulatory non-compliance identified during a review or audit.
Gesip assists operators newly subject to the regulations in developing their Emergency Response Plans (Low-Threshold SEVESO and new entrants as defined by the amended Ministerial Order of October 3, 2010) and offers its support to industrial companies in revising their Emergency Response Plans, drawing on one of the four Emergency Response Plan guides that have become industry standards depending on the type of facility in question:
- Guide 96/01 – Developing the POI for a Major Industrial Site,
- Guide 96/02 – Developing an Implementation Plan for a Small Site,
- Guide 2016/01 – Developing the Internal Operating Plan for an LPG Storage Facility
- Guide 2007/01 – Methodology for Conducting a PSI on a Transmission Pipeline.
Gesip guide les industriels pour s’approprier et respecter les nouvelles exigences de la réglementation. Le POI constitue, en effet, un exemple des difficultés rencontrées par les industriels pour la conformité Post-Rouen.
To ensure the effectiveness of the internal operating plan, regulations require at a minimum an annual drill conducted jointly with public emergency services and in the presence of the DREAL for Upper-Threshold SEVESO facilities, and IOP drills are now mandatory every three years at other sites where an IOP is required.
Gesip met son expertise au service des industriels pour l’organisation et le suivi de ces exercices POI avec élaboration des scénarios et une présence sur site.
Gesip can also assist them during ICPE inspections.
See also:Safety at chemical industrial sites: risks and regulations
Conducting an SGS (Safety Management System) audit
Under the Ministerial Order of May 26, 2014, operators of AS facilities (Authorization with Public Utility Easements under ICPE regulations) are required to implement a Safety Management System (SMS) commensurate with the risks of major accidents that may be caused by the substances present in their facilities.
Given the comprehensive and complex nature of an SGS, audits must be tailored to specific needs and can be conducted by Gesip’s SGS experts.
Le SGS de l’industriel doit, réglementairement, comporter sept chapitres :
- Organization, training
- Identification and Assessment of Risks Associated with Major Accidents
- Process control, operations management
- Design and Change Management
- Emergency Management
- Performance Monitoring
- Audits and management reviews
Gesip effectue la vérification du SGS chapitre par chapitre pour s’assurer de leur existence, de leur application et de leur efficacité. Gesip fournit à l’industriel une analyse d’écart avec les exigences réglementaires et propose ses recommandations d’amélioration.
Gesip may also act as an independent expert at the request of industry or government agencies in connection with a requirement set forth in a supplementary prefectural order (independent expert assessment or third-party expert assessment).
Learn about the new regulations
Believing that risk control and management depend on the pooling of knowledge and the sharing of experiences, Gesip offers a range of training programs designed for industrial and logistics sites.
For example, the Gesip training course on incident management for hazardous material pipelines (GS CANA) teaches participants how to organize and implement a Safety and Response Plan (PSI). It complies with Article L6313-1 as a program designed to acquire, maintain, or enhance knowledge.
Similarly, Gesip offers a wide range of training courses related to the POI or hazard assessment.
In response to changing regulatory requirements, Gesip periodically organizes “Matinales”—short, targeted training sessions designed to facilitate discussion among participants (for example, a Gesip Matinale focused on the Multi-Fluid Order (AMF) and its various regulatory requirements).
For more information, please feel free to contact gesip-technique@gesip.com
