A new national information system for incident and accident prevention will be procured for the rescue services. The purpose of the procurement is to enhance, harmonise and make transparent the processes of incident and accident prevention, data transfer and practices in rescue services and to enable electronic services for customers.

The reform aims to improve the effectiveness of incident and accident prevention and the equality among clients. The information system is expected to be in use by the end of 2024.

The total number of locations covered by the supervision register, such as various properties, chemical sites and oil heating sites, is approximately 2.6 million in Finland. In rescue services, all 22 regional rescue departments, contract fire brigades, the Ministry of the Interior, Emergency Services Academy Finland and the Regional State Administrative Agencies will use the system.

The information system project is based on changes in the legislation of rescue services, national guidance, technological development and closer cooperation between the authorities. The estimated cost of implementing the system is EUR 9.2 million by 2027.  The Ministry of the Interior will carry out the project in cooperation with rescue departments, Pelastusopisto - Emergency Services Academy Finland, DigiFinland, Valtori, Vincit Plc and Sitowise Oy.  

Incident and accident prevention refers to measures intended to decrease the likelihood of incidents and accidents and mitigate the amount of damage caused. Rescue departments prevent incidents and accidents by fire inspections and other surveillance measures, and by guiding, advising and educating citizens, entrepreneurs and others working in the area.

– The importance of information management in the safety of our society and everyday life is becoming increasingly important. In this project, we use digital solutions to help, for example, work promoting fire safety and chemical safety in buildings. We also get to make use of our special expertise related to GIS and spatial data. We feel that we are strong in this type of project, where a large system is created with a wide partner network, says business director of digital solutions Teemu Virtanen from Sitowise.

The original news was published July 7th 2022 at the Ministry of the Interior website intermin.fi