MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF HUNGARY NATIONAL DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Transcription

1 MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF HUNGARY NATIONAL DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT

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3 THE THREE PILLARS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT FIRE PROTECTION INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CIVIL PROTECTION Thermo film Touch it!

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Predecessors Disaster management Directorates Organisational structure Fire protection Civil protection Rescue services Industrial safety International relations Culture, education, sports Services 2

5 INTRODUCTION The prevention of disasters is a national issue. A new era started in the history of disaster management in Hungary on 1 January 2012, presenting new challenges. The disasters of the past period - the red sludge spill, floods, storms, earthquakes, droughts - have revealed that our society is vulnerable; therefore we have to act in order to mitigate the serious damage caused by natural disasters and environmental pollution. It has become inevitable to establish a new disaster management system under unified control. When formulating the new disaster management act, the underlying principle was to strengthen the prevention of severe accidents related to dangerous substances and to improve the protection of the population. It was inevitable to renew the system of civil protection and to place professional fire brigades under state control. The new regulation puts greater emphasis on prevention and preparation, on a more intensive cooperation with the population, on self-reliance, and on taking responsibility. In the unified disaster management task system, the protection of the population and of the material goods necessary for survival is the task of civil protection, in which obligated and voluntary civil protection bodies will have a defining role besides professional disaster management organisations. With the unified control of state fire brigades and the establishment of disaster management guards, the assistance provided by intervening organisations is brought closer to the population, while through the optimal planning of resources and equipment there will be a possibility of more effective and more coordinated activities and, last but not least, of a rational use of financial resources. By renewing the foundations of industrial safety activities in Hungary, and by strengthening the jurisdiction of the authorities, disaster management aims to enforce the strict legal regulations. The aim of the restructured organisation operating by changed regulators is to guarantee the safety of Hungary by efficient prevention, effective interventions and successful reconstruction. We can only achieve this difficult but beautiful task through dedication and strong commitment. Dr György Bakondi, Firefighter Lieutenant General Director General 3

6 PREDECESSORS Firefighting The roots of organised fire protection on the territory of our country go back to the period of Antiquity, to Pannonia in the Roman age. The legend of Saint Florian has been known in Hungary since the appearance of Christianity. The history of modern Hungarian firefighting is linked to the name and dedicated work of Count Ödön Széchenyi who, building on the experiences he gained in London, founded the organised fire service of the capital in Budapest in In 1900 we find Hungary among the founders of CTIF (International Association of Fire and Rescue Services). Following WWII, state firefighter units were created and community firefighter associations were reorganised. After 1990 the Hungarian Firefighter Association was also reestablished. Professional state firefighter units were placed under the control of municipal local governments. Today there are about 25,000 voluntary, professional and industrial firefighters who together protect the lives, the physical integrity and property of Hungarian citizens, and the architectural and natural values of our country. Civil protection The Hungarian Air Defence was founded in 1935 in order to reduce the threats of attack aircraft to the population. The organisation was extraordinarily successful in protecting the civilian population during the bombings of Hungary in World War II. The basis of its operation is the convention signed in Geneva on 12 August 1949 by member states of the UN. In accordance with the requirements of the age, it provides humanitarian aid to affected populations in the event of disasters and eventual armed conflicts. Since the early 1990s, protection against the effects of disasters has been a defining element in its system of tasks. 4

7 DISASTER MANAGEMENT Disasters and emergencies have been present throughout the history of humanity, and thus in the history of Hungary as well. Today we are able to curb disasters, or at least to mitigate their harmful effects. The development of society and the exploitation of the natural environment have resulted in new, hitherto unseen global challenges, which warn us about the need for an organisation with special knowledge and equipment which can prevent civilisational and natural disasters, mitigate their destructive effects in the event of their occurrence, eliminate the consequences and carry out necessary rehabilitation. Hungarian disaster management was created from firefighting and civil protection organisations carrying out state tasks on 1 January International influences and experiences also played a part in the decision on the merger, the aim of which was to ensure more efficient operation. The merger was regulated by the provisions of Act LXXIV of 1999 on the management and organisation of disaster protection and the prevention of major accidents involving hazardous substances. The main aim of the law was to coordinate and provide a unified framework for the activities of national, governmental and local governmental systems, operating at different levels, which have tasks and responsibilities in the prevention and control of civilisational and natural disasters and in eliminating the consequences thereof. The events of the past decade have pointed out the deficiencies of the systems of defence administration and civil protection. Taking all these into account, the new Act CXXVIII of 2011 on Disaster Management was elaborated, coming into force on 1 January The act provided a new foundation for the system and organisation of disaster management. In accordance with the expectations of society, and in harmony with the Fundamental Law of Hungary, the law guarantees the safety and operability of Hungary by strengthening the system of organisations and increasing the role undertaken by the state. The on-duty system of disaster management operates a 24- hour service at the national, district and local levels to receive reports and emergency calls from citizens, and it carries out reporting and data provision activities to superiors and partner organisations. It ensures the activating conditions of the system of defence management through its continuous on-duty service, and it functions as a national contact point for the disaster management organisations of the UN, the EU, NATO and the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. It supports the operation of the integrated disaster management system in an operations management system at county level, providing the background for efficient, professional and fast interventions. 5

8 DIRECTORATES 1 National Directorate General for Disaster Management Ministry of Interior H-1149 Budapest, Mogyoródi út okf.ugyfelszolgalat@katved.gov.hu 2 Baranya County Directorate for Disaster Management H-7627 Pécs, Engel J. u baranya.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 3 Bács Kiskun County Directorate for Disaster Management H-6000 Kecskemét, Deák Ferenc tér 3. bacs.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 4 Békés County Directorate for Disaster Management H-5600 Békéscsaba, Kazinczy F. u bekes.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 5 Borsod Abaúj Zemplén County Directorate for Disaster Management H-3525 Miskolc, Dózsa Gy. út borsod.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 6 Csongrád County Directorate for Disaster Management H-6721 Szeged, Berlini krt csongrad.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 7 Fejér County Directorate for Disaster Management H-8000 Székesfehérvár, Szent Flórián krt fejér.mki@katved.gov.hu 8 Directorate for Disaster Management of the Capital H-1081 Budapest, Dologház u. 1. H-1149 Budapest, Mogyoródi út fkititkarsag@katved.gov.hu 9 Győr Moson Sopron County Directorate for Disaster Management H-9021 Győr, Munkácsi Mihály u gyor.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 10 Hajdú Bihar County Directorate for Disaster Management H-4027 Debrecen, Böszörményi út hajdu.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 11 Heves County Directorate for Disaster Management H-3300 Eger, Kossuth L. u heves.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 12 Jász Nagykun Szolnok County Directorate for Disaster Management H-5000 Szolnok, József Attila u jasz.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 13 Komárom Esztergom County Directorate for Disaster Management H-2800 Tatabánya, Ságvári E. u komarom.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu 14 Nógrád County Directorate for Disaster Management H-3100 Salgótarján, Szent Flórián tér 1. nograd.titkarsag@katved.gov.hu

9 15 Pest County Directorate for Disaster Management H-1149 Budapest, Mogyoródi út Somogy County Directorate for Disaster Management H-7400 Kaposvár, Somssich P. u Szabolcs Szatmár Bereg County Directorate for Disaster Management H-4400 Nyíregyháza, Erdősor u Tolna County Directorate for Disaster Management H-7102 Szekszárd, Mikes K. u Vas County Directorate for Disaster Management H-9700 Szombathely, Ady Endre tér Veszprém County Directorate for Disaster Management H-8200 Veszprém, Dózsa György út Zala County Directorate for Disaster Management H-8900 Zalaegerszeg Széchényi tér

10 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE PROFESSIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT ORGANISATIONS 1 April 2012 Director General Secretariat of the Director General Deputy Director General National Inspectorate General of Fire Services National Inspectorate General of Civil Protection National Inspectorate General of Industrial Safety Department of Legal Affairs and Administration Deputy for Economic Affairs of the Director General Budget Department IT Department Technical Department Office of Investment Organisation Chief of HR Services Personnel Department Department of Education Management and Training Disaster Management Training Centre regional education centres (5) Chief of Auditing Services Department of Auditing Department of Internal Auditing and Supervision office customer service editorial office of the journal, magazine and website Office of Events and Public Relations Department of International Relations Economic Supply Centre National University of Public Service, Institute of Disaster Management video studio Department of Central On-Duty Services regional logistics centres (4) national health, psychology and work safety centre HUNOR professional disaster management search and rescue service central civil protection organisations (47 organisations, 452 personnel) Heros Zrt. Sites (10) defence committee secretaries and deputy secretaries (20) (NDGDM) district health, psychology and work safety centres county (capital) directorates for disaster management (20) branch offices for disaster management (65) local governmental public safety rapporteurs (1106) professional fire departments (104) county special rescue teams disaster management guards (65 + boat service) disaster management offices (46) district special rescue teams local governmental fire brigades (68) voluntary (70) obligated (10529) non-professional, voluntary and obligated civil protection organisations industrial fire brigades (78) voluntary fire associations (670 / 318) civil protection organisations of settlements (20609) civil protection organisations at the workplace (1011) 8

11 FIRE PROTECTION The aim of fire protection, which functions as a defining and organic part of public safety, is to provide appropriate solutions to the actual problems of real life with the help of laws and standards, as well as to protect citizens and create the conditions for efficient firefighting and technical rescue through the consistent observation and enforcement of fire protection regulations, while ensuring the fundamental safety of the intervening corps. Main tasks of the National Inspectorate General of Fire Services: - well-founded, efficient and customer-oriented activities as an authority, competent authority, market supervisor and information provider in the area of fire prevention; - fast, efficient and safe interventions during firefighting events (fires, accidents, and other damage control); - drawing precise conclusions accounting for every detail during fire tests and the analysis of interventions, which can then be used in the field of prevention and intervention; - coordinating the tasks related to the firefighting and technical rescue activities of NGDGM during emergencies and disasters; - preparing guidelines and position statements for the district and local organisations of NGDGM for the unified implementation of activities related to fire protection; - acting as an authority and competent authority; - maintaining contact with and coordinating fire protection and fire test advisory boards; - banning the distribution of products and establishing fines in the event that fire protection or product distribution regulations are breached; - supervising service activities related to fire protection; - preparing and publishing and index of fire protection experts, and issuing licences for experts. Creating an appropriate level of security, including fire safety, is a task for the entire society, thus, in order to achieve the aims, the National Inspectorate General of Fire Services carries out the tasks pertaining to the field of fire protection in cooperation with the citizens, partner organizations, business and voluntary organisations and, last but not least, with industrial and local governmental fire brigades and fire associations. 9

12 CIVIL PROTECTION The basic function of the field of civil protection is the protection of the population, thus the protection of material goods necessary for survival and subsistence, the elimination of the effects endangering these, and the necessary organisational, planning and preparatory work. Therefore, civil protection is the sum of all those tasks which together constitute one of the basic pillars of the organisational, task and information system of disaster management representing the threefold unity of prevention, intervention and reconstruction. One primary aim is to regularly assess the risks to Hungarian settlements based on the actual level of threat and to divide them into disaster management classes, as well as to prepare emergency plans focusing on the vulnerability of the population. In order to prevent the threat of disasters and to protect the population, we have had to define the professional requirements for carrying out the tasks of civil protection; the field of civil protection ensures the preparation of emergency plans at all levels of planning. In order to ensure the efficient protection of settlements, the field carries out and coordinates the prevention, intervention and reconstruction activities related to the tasks of civil protection. Establishing, equipping and training voluntary and obligated civil protection bodies are part of the operational part of the response. The field is paying special attention to the renewal of the above-mentioned civil protection bodies in 2012 as well. In most counties of Hungary, county rescue teams have been formed which support the work of professional disaster management organisations, and assist rescue and the elimination of emergencies with their specialised expertise. Within defence administration, the field of civil protection deals with the preparation of governmental decisions relating to disaster management, with the administrative tasks of the Inter- Ministerial Coordinating Committee for Disaster Management (KKB), as well as with ensuring the continuity of the operation of the Committee. At the district and local levels of defence administration, the field of civil protection provides legal supervision of the decisions of county/capital defence committees. In accordance with the laws, the leader of disaster management acts as deputy chair beside the chair of the county/capital or local defence committee, in order to ensure competent control of the committee. Within the preparation of the population, the preparation of children and youth is a priority area which has been significantly reorganised in the past year, and which functions as an integral part of the system of public and higher education, ensuring that every child becomes acquainted with the rules of requesting assistance, with the local risks characteristic of their environment and with the appropriate responses to these (forms of behaviour). Learning about the disaster management organisations, their work and equipment during presentations, visits and exercises is an important element of preparation. 10 In order to ensure the broadest possible preparation of the population, a public safety rapporteur system has been created on the basis of the disaster management categorisation of settlements, which assists preparation according to the level of threat present at individual settlements.

13 RESCUE SERVICES In order to ensure the appropriate management of extraordinary emergencies, a professional, specially trained rescue service with heavy search and rescue special equipment has been established under the auspices of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management, which is called HUNOR (Hungarian National Organisation for Rescue Services). Due to similar considerations, the HUSZÁR medium urban search and rescue team has also been created with the involvement of voluntary rescue services with national qualifications and of the district organisations of civil protection. The HUNOR Professional Disaster Management Rescue Service is a central special rescue team of the professional disaster management authority, and the official rescue team of Hungary operating abroad. In the past decades disasters have occurred all over the world in areas with high population density, where many people live and work, and where the number of residential buildings is high. This has raised demands to involve experienced, so-called urban search and rescue (USAR) teams, that is, specially trained and equipped earthquake search teams in rescuing the population and material goods in the affected areas. The task of HUNOR is to search for and rescue victims trapped under ruins, and to provide first aid if necessary. In areas affected by earthquakes its tasks include technical rescue, removing victims and ensuring their chances for survival. All of the professional firefighters who have applied for the rescue service have several years' experience in technical rescue and four or five special qualifications. 11

14 INDUSTRIAL SAFETY The activities of the National Inspectorate General for Industrial Safety, which is responsible for tasks related to industrial safety, include four main functions: the supervision of hazardous plants, the control of the transportation of dangerous goods, the protection of critical infrastructures, and averting nuclear accidents. Its sphere of tasks includes operating an official licensing and monitoring system for plants under the effect of the disaster management act, also acting as an appellate authority, as well as carrying out activities related to nuclear safety as a supervisor and competent authority. Furthermore, it operates the official monitoring system of the air, road, rail and water transportation of dangerous goods, including the on-site supervision of the preparation of transports. It is also responsible for tasks related to the protection of critical infrastructures and for the professional control of district and local level inspectorates and general inspectorates for industrial safety established at directorates and branch offices for disaster management. In addition to the above, it carries out the international tasks included in the SEVESO II Directive on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances and related to the Helsinki Convention on the transboundary effects of industrial accidents. In order to prevent industrial disasters more efficiently, through its licensing and supervisory activity, the hazardous plants field guarantees the conditions for the safe operation of the nearly 170 plants dealing with harmful substances and plants below threshold levels in the register of the authority as well as of the more than 550 plants newly coming under the effect of the regulation. The competence of the industrial safety authority has been expanded to include the complex supervision, also involving partner authorities, of enterprises carrying out hazardous activities, which has resulted in a more efficient discovery of eventual irregularities. 12

15 INDUSTRIAL SAFETY The protection of the population is appropriately ensured by the radiation assessment, measuring and information network operating within the framework of nuclear accident prevention, as well as by the network of mobile disaster management laboratories created in order to monitor those working with nuclear and radioactive substances. The field of hazardous transports includes the tasks of the authority related to the supervision of hazardous transports and to imposing sanctions in the event of malpractice. In the past, the competence of the disaster management authority included only the supervision of road transports of hazardous goods and of the related premises. The change in the law expanded this competence to rail, water, and air transportation as well. Due to the new organisational structure, supervisory activities can be organised and carried out more efficiently, since they are conducted in part by the branch office for disaster management closest to the site to be checked. The new organisational structure of the general inspectorate makes possible the regulation of the activities related to critical infrastructures within and across sectors, the promotion of the functioning of the economy, as well as the prevention of negative consequences resulting from disturbances in the operation of the facilities. A more uniform security policy approach than before facilitates preparation and the protection of the population living in the vicinity of potentially hazardous activities. 13

16 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS NDGDM is actively engaged in international activities, which is in harmony with the foreign policy strategy of the government and the priorities of the Ministry of Interior. NDGDM maintains several bi- and multilateral relations. Multilateral relations are grouped around three international organisations, which are the following in order of priority: the European Union (EU), the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the United Nations Organisation (UN). European Union: As regards the European Union, NDGDM represents Hungary in the Civil Protection Workgroup of the Council (PROCIV), as well as in the Civil Protection Comitology Committee. At present, the PROCIV workgroup is discussing the proposed decision about the new civil protection mechanism of the EU. In the course of this work, the maximum representation of Hungarian interests is a priority task. One of the main functions of the Civil Protection Comitology Committee is to accept the annual civil protection work programme, which determines the amount of money assigned by the EU for individual goals. These funds may be drawn down through applications for tenders. Besides these, the experts of NDGDM and of district organisations continuously participate, as far as this is possible, in the meetings of workgroups convened on various topics - disaster response planning, training, CBRN, transportation, module, support for receiving countries, risk assessment, experiences of past disasters, CECIS advisory group -, at EU staff management and field exercises as observers or experts, and at trainings organised within the framework of the EU CP Mechanism based on our country quota. Participation at EU trainings is a prerequisite for delegating a given expert to the EU MIC expert team at exercises and in real-life emergencies. Since NDGDM is the official national contact point for the EU Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), this body is responsible for tasks related to providing and requesting international assistance. In this sphere of activity it organises the delivery of international aid transports, and in the event of a Hungarian request for assistance it coordinates incoming aid and maintains contact with international organisations. 14

17 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS NDGDM pays continuous attention to the activities of other workgroups of the Council of the EU, especially those dealing with internal affairs (terrorism-twg, domestic security-cosi, humanitarian aid-cohafa, etc.) and it continuously tracks the implementation of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (EPCIP) and of the EU CBRN Action Plan. NATO: As regards NATO, NDGDM is responsible for the coordination and representation tasks related to civil emergency planning (CEP) activities, and participates at the meetings of the NATO Civil Emergency Planning Committee (CEPC) and in the work of the Civil Protection Group (CPG); furthermore, NDGDM is the national contact point for NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). UN: As regards the UN, NDGDM is also the national contact point for the UN OCHA. At present it is a priority task to requalify the two Hungarian urban search and rescue teams, HUNOR and HUSZÁR, according to the UN INSARAG guidelines. During preparation, the experts of NDGDM participate at the qualification exercises of other countries. Besides this, the experts of NDGDM take part in other events of the UN related to disaster management, such as Global Platform, the UN ISDR conference and meeting, and civilian-military cooperation. NDGDM maintains bilateral relations with 17 countries (Austria, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Germany, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Mongolia) based on government agreements for disaster management. The organisation puts special emphasis on enhancing cooperation with neighbouring countries and on the development of operational work. The Hungarian- Serbian bilateral government agreement for disaster management is being elaborated at present. Other areas of the international activities of NDGDM: - Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South- Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE); - disaster management cooperation between the V4 countries; - International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF); - Federation of the European Union Fire Officer Associations (FEU); - International Development Cooperation (IDC). 15

18 CULTURE, EDUCATION, SPORTS Disaster Management Training Centre (DMTC) DMTC is an institution of the disaster management organisation which provides professional training outside the school system as defined in the laws on vocational and adult education. As a national methodology and examination centre, the institution organises and carries out trainings in disaster management, fire and civil protection, and industrial safety, organises examinations and further training, and provides methodological support for on-site training and for the operation of the newly formed district educational centres. The institution has a history of 64 years: the institutional state training of firefighters in Hungary started in During the decades, the name of the educational institution and the form, level and duration of trainings have been changed several times. It has carried out its educational activity as the Disaster Management Training Centre since 1 January In order to carry out the tasks and exercise the competences defined in the new effective act on disaster management in a more efficient and professional manner, the need has emerged for new directions in training, therefore several forms of training will be modified again in Institute of Disaster Management of the National University of Public Service The Institute of Disaster Management of the National University of Public Service, which includes the Department of Disaster Management Operations, Fire Protection and Rescue Control, and Industrial Safety, was established on 1 January Beginning with the academic year 2013/2014, the Institute plans to launch an independent BSc programme in disaster management with three specialisations - in disaster management operations, fire protection and rescue control, and industrial safety. The Institute of Disaster Management plays an important part in ensuring the supply of officers for the professional disaster management organisations. In the long term, by establishing an MSc programme, the Institute of Disaster Management aims to become a base for leadership development within the educational system. Editorial office of the journal, magazine and website 16 The editorial office publishes the professional journal of fire and civil protection and industrial safety entitled Katasztrófavédelem (Disaster Management), and it supervises the preparation of the Katasztrófavédelmi Szemle (Disaster Management Review). The 32-page monthly Katasztrófavédelem mostly presents the activities of the organisation with national competence through, and occasionally it also offers insights into work carried out in areas related to disaster management. Katasztrófavédelmi Szemle is a bimonthly magazine which deals with topical questions from a practical or often scientific approach. The magazine also offers longer, more profound analyses, and it provides the opportunity for presenting new theoretical and practical achievements. Besides disaster management experts, the authors of the magazine also include scholars working in other scientific fields. The editorial office is responsible for the website of NDGDM and for supervising the websites of the county directorates.

19 CULTURE, EDUCATION, SPORTS Central Orchestra of Disaster Management The orchestra is the legal successor of the Firefighters' Orchestra of the Capital founded in the late 1930s, which preserved centuries-old traditions of firefighters' music. The orchestra, which numbers 22 members at present, operates in the spirit of Hungarian historical tradition and Central- European brass band traditions. It participates at different events, ceremonies and brass band festivals, at the latter as a marching band. The orchestra often performs at the touristic sights of the capital and the country, such as the Fishermen's Bastion, Margaret Island, Buda Castle, Heroes' Square, and the Orient Express at the Nyugati Railway Station. The musical knowledge of its members enables the orchestra to present a distinguished concert programme, thus the performance of the entire brass band repertoire poses no problem. Besides well-known works by classic Hungarian composers - Erkel, Liszt, Kodály - the programme also includes pieces by contemporary composers, as well as popular operettas, musicals, dance-band music, and fashionable Northern American tunes. Central Museum of Disaster Management The Museum operates in the building of the Budapest 10th District Fire Department as the legal successor of the Fire Museum founded in 1955 and opened in Besides functioning as a museum, it is also responsible for the professional supervision of the memorials of disaster management bodies established in order to preserve traditions. Its permanent exhibition presents the development of fire protection from prehistoric times to the present day, acquainting visitors with the millennia-old fight against fires, the development of fire prevention and firefighting equipment, as well as with the life, work and cultural traditions of the firefighters of former ages. The collection of the museum is home to numerous rarities. Among the curiosities we may find the only water organ in the world from the Roman age which is still working today, and which was found in Óbuda, to the south of the Aquincum Museum, among the ruins of the former firefighters' headquarters, in a collapsed Roman-age cellar. The collection also includes one of the masterpieces of firefighting technology by a Hungarian inventor, the forerunner of today's compressed-air breathing apparatus, invented by Master-Sentinel Károly Kõszegi Mártony in Branches of the museum in the countryside may be found at Vörs, Bonyhád, Nagycenk and Eger. Firefighter challenges The priority tasks of NDGDM include the improvement, maintenance and regular annual assessment of the physical condition of its on-call staff. In order to achieve these goals, NDGDM ensures the necessary equipment and facilities for organising sports events for the staff as part of training. At all fire departments there are opportunities for strength training (gym), table tennis, volleyball and football. Disaster management regularly organises sports competitions and championships for its staff in the most popular sports. 17

20 CULTURE, EDUCATION, SPORTS Firefighter challenges represent a special sport of the Hungarian and international firefighter community, which comprises the fundamental components of the firefighting profession in a form measurable at competitions. The sport consists of events like 100-metre obstacle racing, hook ladder climbing, metre relay racing, and portable fire pump assembly. The competition system of the sport makes it possible to measure the speed, courage and skills of firefighters at district, county, national and international levels. There are four or five firefighting competitions a year which enable firefighters to compare their strength with their colleagues from abroad. These challenges offer an excellent opportunity for firefighters to get acquainted with the work and life of their foreign colleagues and to widen their professional knowledge and contacts. The Directorate for Disaster Management of the Capital delegates a team every year to the long-distance running competition organised in Paris, where more than two thousand firefighters from 15 countries compare their strength in cross country running. A new, special sport called TFA has also appeared on the international firefighter sports scene. The individual competition, which comprises four events, presents an extraordinary challenge for firefighters, who have to compete in hose carrying and coiling, ladder assembly, carrying cans and an 80-kilogram dummy, and stair running, while wearing a breathing apparatus. The team of the Budapest firefighters is among the best of this sport in Europe and in the entire world. Physical examination During damage control, lives may depend on the physical condition of the intervening firefighters. Members of the professional staff of disaster management take part in an annual physical examination, which is an obligation prescribed by the law, and which is meant to assess the actual, complex physical performance of the body. The examination involves testing the components of conditional abilities (strength, endurance, speed), such as bending the arms during push-ups for 30 seconds, 4x10 m shuttle run, sit-ups from lying on the floor for one minute, standing long jump, 2000 m running, bent arm hang, and bench presses. The physical condition of firefighters is qualified by evaluating the results of the tests on the basis of a pre-determined system of points (Eurofit). The above criteria can only be met by regular training and exercise, facilitated by daily sports sessions and the increasing number of sporting events. 18 The Directorate for Disaster Management of the Capital is the only one in the world to develop a new method for assessing the physical condition of firefighters and for testing their physiological indicators. Firefighters are tested going through a fire simulation container and a psychological exercise course wearing full protective gear and a breathing apparatus, while completing assembly and life-saving tasks. In the meantime, their physiological indicators (pulse, lactate, skin temperature, humidity, gas exchange) are continuously monitored, recorded and evaluated.

21 SERVICES Psychological services Disaster management psychology is an activity which forms part of human resource management, and which is an important element of the basic health care system. Psychological services effectively and successfully employ the tools and methods of psychology in order to achieve the goals of the organisation and of the individuals. The physical and mentally fitness of employees is the basis not only of successful disaster management, but also of any effective and efficient organised activity. Our aim can be no less than to ensure that all of our colleagues are in such "deployable" condition. In order to achieve its aims, the field carries out a manifold activity. In addition to various eligibility tests, executive selection, educational, scientific and organisation development activities, preparation for emergencies and crisis intervention tasks have a special importance. The psychological system of disaster management has seen dynamic development in the past year; at present there are five care provision centres in the country responsible for the above tasks and for ensuring the mental health of our staff and their families. In the future, psychological care will be expanded as regards both the scope of its activities and its territorial distribution. Disaster Management Research Institute The Disaster Management Research Institute functions as part of the organisation of the Disaster Management Training Centre, separated from the task system of the fire protection authority in order to ensure the independence of its certifying activity. The Institute, formerly known as the Fire Protection Testing Laboratory and Certifying Body, has continued its product testing and certifying activity as the Disaster Management Research Institute since 1 January The function of the Institute is to conduct product certification procedures and issue fire safety compliance certificates for its partners manufacturing and distributing fire safety technical equipment as a well-prepared, designated and independent body. Its further tasks include conducting periodical quality control tests and providing expert assistance in technical issues related to its scope of activities which occur in the field of disaster management. The Institute has a history of nearly 15 years, as it has been testing and certifying various types of portable fire extinguishing equipment, fire extinguishing substances and fire safety products since October Its activity is conducted in an accredited testing environment. It has been designated by the ministry as a product certifying body. 19

22 SERVICES MI HEROS MI HEROS Repair, Manufacture, Service and Trade Zrt. started its operations on 2 August The main aim of the activities of HEROS is to maintain and service the equipment pools of disaster management and the fire service. In order to achieve this, national and district services will be launched gradually, beginning with 1 April Besides manufacturing fire engines and structural components and repairing vehicles, HEROS also distributes products related to fire safety. Exploiting its experience of several decades in repairing the vehicles of the organisations belonging to the Ministry of Interior, it offers high-quality work as a brand-independent service repairing and servicing passenger cars and small commercial vehicles, and performs their testing and environmental inspection as a designated testing centre. In addition to the above, it is also responsible for the inspection and occasional repair of breathing apparatuses in the entire territory of the country, as well as for testing several types of heavy gas protection clothing and for servicing gas masks, their filter cartridges and protection hoods. HEROS places great emphasis on prevention, therefore it has developed a planned prevention maintenance system. 20

23 IMPRINT Publisher: Dr György Bakondi, Firefighter Lieutenant General General Director of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management Ministry of Interior of Hungary website: Editing: A&Z 1.1 Térképmûhely Printing: Crew Print Kft. 2012

24 NATIONAL DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OF HUNGARY H-1149 Budapest, Mogyoródi út 43.