To continuously enhance public safety in places handling public hazardous substances within Taichung City, the Taichung City Government’s Fire Bureau collaborated with the central government’s agencies, including the Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau, the Central Region Occupational Safety and Health Center of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Ministry of Labor, the Economic Development Bureau, the Urban Development Bureau, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Labor Inspection Office of the Taichung City Government, to form a team and conduct a joint inspection. From August 19 to October 29, 97 establishments in Taichung manufacturing, storing, and processing public hazardous substances (including those with quantities 30 times or more than the controlled amount and those with quantities above the controlled amount but less than 30 times) were inspected. This enhanced safety inspection on establishments handling public hazardous substances lasted for a period of over two months.
The Fire Bureau noted that the joint inspection this time primarily focused on several key areas: the security monitoring system at places handling public hazardous substances, workplace safety, building safety declarations, factory registrations, the declarations of public hazardous substances, and the management of toxic substances at factories. In addition, to improve the management of hazardous substances in warehouses and commercial storage facilities in Taichung City, 13 such sites were included in the joint inspection. If any violations are found, the city government will enforce strict measures and require corrective actions while also helping businesses improve their self-inspection and emergency response capabilities.
Additionally, in light of a recent fire at a factory owned by Launch Technologies in the Pingtung Industrial Park, Taichung City leveraged the inspection to enhance lateral communication across various agencies and boost safety in factories handling hazardous substances. The Fire Bureau urges businesses to take proactive steps in protecting their property, including regular fire drills and maintenance of fire safety equipment, to prevent accidents and safeguard public safety.
Furthermore, due to Taiwan's location in an earthquake-prone area, the Fire Bureau reminds businesses that in addition to complying with safety management provisions outlined in the Establishment Standard and Safety Control Regulation for Manufacturing, Storing, Processing Public Hazardous Substances and Flammable Pressurized Gases Places, they should also conduct earthquake simulation exercises more often and devise measures to prevent the leakage of public hazardous substances, thereby reducing the risk of disasters caused by earthquakes.