Major Accidents Ordinance (MAO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 1 Purpose and scope
1 The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the public and the environment against serious harm or damage resulting from major accidents. 2 It applies to: a. establishments where the threshold quantities for substances, preparations or special wastes specified in Annex 1.1 are exceeded; b. establishments where an activity involving genetically modified or pathogenic organisms or alien microorganisms subject to compulsory containment is carried out which is to be assigned to Class 3 or Class 4 in accordance with the Containment Ordinance of 9 May 2012; c. railway installations in accordance with Annex 1.2a; d. transit roads, as defined in the Ordinance of 6 June 1983 on Transit Roads, where dangerous goods are transported or transhipped in accordance with the Ordinance of 17 April 1985 on the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (SDR) or the relevant international agreements; e. the Rhine, where dangerous goods are transported or transhipped in accordance with the Ordinance of 29 April
Para. 2 let. a — Amended by No II 8 of the O of 18 May 2005 on the Repeal and Amendment of Ordinances in connection with the Commencement of the Chemicals Act, in force since 1 Aug. 2005 (AS 2005 2695). Para. 2 let. b — Amended by No I of the O of 29 April 2015, in force since 1 June 2015 (AS 2015 1337). Para. 2 let. b — SR 814.912 Para. 2 let. c — Amended by No I of the O of 29 April 2015, in force since 1 June 2015 (AS 2015 1337). Para. 2 let. d — [AS 1983 678. AS 1992 341 Art. 7]. Now: Transi
Art. 2 Definitions
1 An establishment comprises installations as defined in Article 7 paragraph 7 EPA which have closely related operations and are in close proximity to each other (operating area). 2 … 3 The hazard potential is the sum of the effects which could arise from the quantities and properties of the substances, preparations, special wastes, organisms or dangerous goods in question. 4 A major accident is an exceptional event occurring in an establishment, on a transport route or in a pipeline installation which has significant effects: a. outside the operating area; b. on or near the transport route; c. near the pipeline installation. 5 The risk is determined by the extent of the possible harm to the public or damage to the environment resulting from major accidents and the likelihood of their occurrence.
Para. 2 — Repealed by No I of the O of 29 April 2015, with effect from 1 June 2015 (AS 2015 1337) Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 April 2015, in force since 1 June 2015 (AS 2015 1337). Para. 4 — Amended by No I of the O of 13 Feb. 2013, in force since 1 April 2013 (AS 2013 749). Para. 4 let. c — Inserted by No I of the O of 13 Feb. 2013, in force since 1 April 2013 (AS 2013 749).