Article
Safety of Constructions from the Point of View of Population
Protection in the Context of Industry 4.0 in the Czech Republic
Simona Slivkova * , Lenka Brumarova, Barbora Kluckova, Jiri Pokorny and Katerina Tomanova
Citation: Slivkova, S.; Brumarova, L.;
Kluckova, B.; Pokorny, J.; Tomanova,
K. Safety of Constructions from the
Point of View of Population
Protection in the Context of Industry
4.0 in the Czech Republic.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 9927. https://
doi.org/10.3390/su13179927
Academic Editor: Paolo Renna
Received: 23 July 2021
Accepted: 29 August 2021
Published: 3 September 2021
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4.0/).
Faculty of Safety Engineering, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, Lumirova 13/630,
700 30 Ostrava, Czech Republic; lenka.brumarova@vsb.cz (L.B.); barbora.kluckova@vsb.cz (B.K.);
jiri.pokorny@vsb.cz (J.P.); katerina.tomanova@vsb.cz (K.T.)
* Correspondence: simona.slivkova@vsb.cz; Tel.: +420-596-992-814
Abstract:
The current safety situation and the conclusions of a number of strategic and conceptual
works require a broader integration of the population protection system into the areas of construction
management. The approaches adopted by individual countries to this matter differ greatly. In the
Czech Republic, the definition of constructions to which it is necessary to apply population protection
requirements has not been dealt with sufficiently. The construction technical requirements from the
point of view of population protection are also not sufficiently dealt with. This article presents a
new draft procedure for designating the requirements for the relevant constructions of population
protection in the Czech Republic. In addition, possible external hazards affecting the constructions or
their strategic importance functions were assessed. In conclusion, the general, specific, and strategic
requirements for constructions are set. The procedure is applied to the conditions of the Czech
Republic, but it is also applicable in other countries. The area of public protection is closely related to
Industry 4.0. Ensuring the protection of the population, as well as the safety of workers, employers,
and production facilities, is one of the basic preconditions for the development of the industry.
Keywords: sustainability of the Industry 4.0; population protection; building safety; building risks
1. Introduction
Population protection, safety, sustainable development, and technological progress
are some of the primary aims of the European Union. The principles of the European
Union security policy cover, for example, increasing the prosperity of citizens, ensuring
sustainable territorial development, support for growth, a safe and healthy environment,
and support for the resilience of democratic systems [
1
]. Global systemic trends and
challenges associated with population dynamics, urbanization, disease and pandemics,
acceleration of technological changes, and unsustainable economic growth contribute to
the fact that dealing with challenges in the area of the environment and attainment of
long-term sustainable development is complicated [2].
Territorial safety is closely associated with long-term sustainability. The sustainability
strategy is associated with the themes “people and society”, “economic model”, “resilient
ecosystem”, “municipalities and regions”, “global development”, and “good management
of public affairs” [3,4].
Ensuring territorial safety is one of the main tasks of the state, and public administra-
tion plays the primary role in its fulfillment. The safety and sustainability of the territory are
ensured by, amongst other things, safety planning, including town planning. Population
protection can be included in the designation of requirements in town planning [5].
However, the safety and protection of inhabitants are not only reflected in the area of
town planning. The principles of sustainable development are informed by an attempt to
ensure that towns are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable [
6
,
7
]. The form of the built
environment in particular has a significant impact on the ability of society to deal with
the problems of climate change or sustainability. The environmental challenges and risks
Sustainability 2021, 13, 9927. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179927 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
