The second Mission Zero Safety Festival has been held

On 12 July, the second Mission Zero Safety [Enthusiasts] Festival took place all day at the training ground of BOTC Training. The aim of the event was for the participants – employer representatives – to support each other by sharing best practices, networking, gaining new knowledge and reinforcing what they have learned so far. This year, the content and activities of the festival focused on areas that are relevant to everyone’s daily life, and also raise awareness on how to prepare for the “X” hour. The festival programme included: practical sessions on fire safety and fire fighting, first aid for adults and children in emergency situations, rescuing people from hard-to-reach places and being prepared to use and prepare the content of a 72-hour bag. The thematic work stations and activities during the festival were provided by the Ministry of Defence, 1st Riga Brigade of the Home Guard, BOTC Training, FN SERVISS, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Emergency Medical Aid Centre and State Real Estate.

Linda Šedlere, the initiator of the Mission Zero initiative, Board Member and Human Capital Director of SCHWENK Latvija, commented on the choice of the main theme of the Mission Zero Safety Festival – civil protection as an essential part of the safety system of the Mission Zero participants – saying that “Employers play an important role in civil protection, as it is the responsibility of every legal entity to safeguard the environment, where employees are trained and prepared to deal with both everyday safety situations and hazards and disasters, where there is a practical understanding of the necessary facilities and information, where safety and an awareness of preparedness to act appropriately in the workplace can mitigate or prevent potential negative impacts. Today, Mission Zero brings together 102 employers who together employ more than 54 000 employees, which in the context of civil protection is a significant resource and asset if we understand that the responsible actions of each of these workers in their working and living environment can contribute to the proper performance of civil protection duties for the common good of society, because by working together we can do and achieve more.”

To help Mission Zero participants better fulfil these roles and responsibilities, officials from the State Fire and Rescue Service and the Radiation Safety Centre of the State Environmental Service discussed with Mission Zero participants the role of employers in implementing the national civil protection policy and planning activities as part of a company’s safe work culture.

The Mission Zero initiative sets a common goal: to make health and safety a company’s priority values in every aspect of its operations and in its interactions with society, by reducing the number of fatalities caused by work and related external conditions, by significantly reducing the number of workplace accidents, by aiming for zero and by preventively implementing measures to protect and preserve workers’ health.