There are several national laws, decrees and guidelines as well as international regulations that set the safety requirements for accommodation services. The functions required in the provision of accommodation/restaurant/activity services are discussed under the following sections:
Rescue Act
More information: Rescue services – Laws and decrees
- The purpose of the Rescue Act is to improve the safety of people and to reduce the number of accidents. The purpose of the Act is also to ensure that when there is the threat of an accident or when an accident has occurred, people are rescued, important functions are secured and the consequences of the accident are successfully limited.
- The Rescue Act is coordinated by the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services, the Regional State Administrative Agency and the regional rescue departments. The local supervisory authorities are the chief fire officer and fire inspector.
Occupational Safety and Health Act
More information: Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Current regulations
- The objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act are to improve the working environment and working conditions in order to ensure and maintain the working capacity of employees as well as to prevent occupational accidents and diseases and eliminate other hazards from work and the working environment to the physical and mental health of employees.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Act is coordinated by the Regional State Administrative Agency, which is also the supervisory authority for the act.
Health Protection Act
More information: Valvira – Health protection
- The purpose of the Health Protection Act is to maintain and promote the health of individuals and the population as well as preventing, reducing and eliminating health hazards in the living environment. The operations related to the living environment must be planned, organised and conducted in a way that maintains and promotes the health of individuals and the population. Furthermore, the generation of health hazards must be prevented where possible.
The Health Protection Act is coordinated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The local supervisory authorities for the act are the Regional State Administrative Agency and the municipal health protection authority (health inspector).
Land Use and Building Act
More information: Ministry of the Environment – Land use and building
- This act regulates the planning, construction and use of buildings and areas.
- The Land Use and Building Act is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment. The local supervisory authorities are the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) and the municipal building supervision authority (building inspector).
An accommodation provider may conduct a variety of operations and, therefore, the above legislation may not cover the entire business of the company. However, they specify the relevant factors related to safety.
PERMITS AND NOTICES
Rescue plan
Open: Template for drawing up a rescue plan
A rescue plan is required for a building or other site
- which is exceptionally demanding with regard to evacuation safety or rescue operations
- where the risk to the safety of persons or to fire safety or the risk to the environment or cultural property, or the damage caused by any accident, may be considered serious.
The supervisory authority is the rescue authority.
Building permit
More information: Ymparisto.fi – Permits related to land use and building
- Buildings must meet the requirements set for their intended use.
- The actual use of a building must be in line with the permit issued for the building.
- The final inspection (or commissioning inspection) related to a building permit (or an action permit) must be completed before the building is put to use.
- The construction of professional buildings or structures (such as tourist attractions) made of snow, ice or slush is subject to an action or building permit.
The supervisory authority is the municipal building supervision authority (building inspector).
Application guidelines for the notice procedure according to Section 13 of the Health Protection Act
More information: Valvira.fi – Application guidelines for the notice procedure according to Section 13 of the Health Protection Act
- The operator must submit a written notice of the following actions to the municipal health protection authority no later than 30 days in advance:
- Locating a workspace whose use may pose a health hazard inside a residential building or in an area that includes dwelling units.
- Locating comparable operations that may pose a health hazard inside a residential building or in an area that includes dwelling units.
- Establishing or commissioning public entertainment, meeting or accommodation premises.
- Establishing or commissioning a sauna, beach, indoor or outdoor swimming pool or spa intended for public use.
- Locating or commissioning in the area covered by the detailed plan a building or pen intended for keeping animals.
- Establishing or commissioning other premises or facilities whose hygienic properties are subject to special requirements due to the visitor volume or nature of operations.
- The municipal health protection authority (health inspector) acts as the supervisory authority for the act.