The Legislative Yuan today passed amendments to the Fire Services Act (消防法) requiring property owners or managers to abide by new fire safety regulations or face up to seven years in jail if their negligence results in death or injury.
This bill was originally drafted in response to an industrial fire in Pingtung County last year that killed 10 firefighters and wounded nearly 100.
To ensure that firefighters are aware of dangers before going into a facility, property managers of large facilities are now required to provide maps, inventory of chemicals on site and other necessary information.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan Fire Department
All the information must also be uploaded to an online platform and provided to firefighters in the event of an incident, and there must also be personnel on site ready to brief firefighters on potential hazards.
The penalties for failing to provide maps or floor plans are NT$50,000 to NT$3 million (US$1,542 to US$92,518).
Failing to inform firefighters about chemical hazards is punishable by NT$100,000 to NT$5 million, in addition to a maximum seven-year prison sentence for deaths as a result of failing to abide by fire safety rules.
To encourage whistle-blowers, the new law gives any on-site employee the right to a percentage of the fine if they report illegal actions to authorities.
The amendment also establishes a new safety and health advisory council to make policy recommendations.
Both central and local firefighting organizations are required to set up specialized units for safety and health, with the fire chief serving as the head.
Furthermore, fire services should expand the ability of local firefighters to collaborate on policy or operational procedures.
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