Partner organisations

Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP

Civil protection system current page
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  Mission
  
  The mission of civil protection is to protect the population and its vital resources in the event of disasters, emergencies and armed conflict.
  
  Civil protection organisation (CPO)
  
  The CPO, an additional civil protection organisation, cares for persons in need of protection, and supports the partner organisations over longer periods of time.
  
  Structure, command and management
  
  Civil protection is an integrated management, protection, rescue and relief system.
  
  Partner organisations
  
  The civil protection system must ensure that the five partner organisations: the police, the fire, health care and technical services, as well as the CPO cooperate effectively.
Alerting and informing
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  Alerting the public
  
  Disasters can occur at very short notice and sometimes without any advance warning. This is why it is so important to ensure a rapid flow of information and to warn the population in time.
  
  Polyalert – the system for alerting the public
  
  In Switzerland approx. 5,000 stationary sirens are maintained to alert the public. The highly reliable system by which the sirens are remote-controlled is designated as ‘Polyalert’.
  
  Alarm signals
  
  The general alert is sounded when there is a possible threat to the population. Should there be a risk of flooding, people living downhill from dams are alerted by the water alert alarm signal.
  
  Information by radio
  
  The authorities can inform by radio at any time. Technical and organisational provisions have been made to this end.
  
  Testing sirens
  
  Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, all sirens across Switzerland are tested.
  
  Issuing natural danger warnings to the public
  
  The relevant government agencies are constantly monitoring the situation with regard to natural dangers, and are responsible for issuing warnings to the authorities and the public.
Tasks
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  Hazards and Risks
  
  In civil protection, hazard and risk analyses provide the basis for action planning in the areas of prevention and precaution for coping with catastrophes and emergencies.
  
  The NBC Protection
  
  NBC protection covers all measures to defend against and prevent nuclear (N), biological (B) and chemical (C) threats and hazards.
  
  Protective structures
  
  Protective structures were designed primarily to protect the population (shelters), and to ensure the readiness of civil protection resources (protected premises) during an armed conflict.
  
  Critical infrastructure protection
  
  The term „critical infrastructures“ refers to those facilities and organizations, whose disruption could cause severe damage on a supra-regional level, e.g. in the energy sector, the communication...
  
  Civil protection training
  
  Civil protection training focuses primarily on dealing with disasters and emergencies, and is a cantonal responsibility. The cantons are supported by the FOCP.
  
  Resources Management at Federal Level
  
  Resources Management at Federal Level (ResMaB) coordinates the deployment of all resources that are available at the federal level.
  
  The protection of Cultural Property in Switzerland
  
  These pages offer you basic information about Switzerland's Protection of Cultural Property, about organisation, protective measures and legal basis.
  
  Management and operational communications systems
  
  The FOCP develops and operates secure communications networks for the rescue and security authorities and organisations or coordinates the necessary work. These systems include Polycom, SDVS (secure...
  
  Coordinated Medical Services (CMS)
  
  The CMS supports the public healthcare sector with coordinated civilian and military resources.
Publications and services
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  Current
  
  War in Ukraine
  
  Downloads
  
  Documents on hazards and risks
  
  Documents protective structures
  Basics
  Service
  
  E-billing
About us
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  Members of the management board
  
  The heads of the business units are on the management board of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP).
  
  Basic FOCP legislation
  
  The tasks and competencies of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) are laid down in a range of acts, ordinances and directives.
  
  Organisation of the FOCP
  
  The FOCP consists of the following business units: Strategy and Steering, Programme Management, Resources, National Emergency Operations Centre and Incident Management, Civil Protection and Training,...
  
  Locations and contacts
  
  The FOCP has its offices in various places. Its headquarters are at the Guisanplatz 1B in Bern.
  
  Tasks of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP)
  
  The FOCP supports federal authorities, cantons and partner organisations of the civil protection system in preventing collective risks and in handling incidents.
  
  Job vacancies in the FOCP
  
  Autonomous work, networked thinking and a constant willingness to learn more are expected and promoted in the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP).

Partner organisations

Five partner organisations

The civil protection system must ensure that the five partner organisations: the police, the fire, health care and technical services, as well as the CPO (an additional civil protection organisation) cooperate effectively. Each of the five civil protection partner organisations is in charge of its particular domain. They support each other in the execution of these tasks.

Police

The police is responsible for maintaining public security and order. It is a primary intervention resource, regulated at cantonal level. The relevant tasks are carried out by cantonal and municipal police services.

Fire service

The fire services are in charge of rescue and general damage protection, including fire-fighting and coping with other natural hazards. They too are a primary intervention resource, and their interventions may last between several hours or days. Fire services are under cantonal jurisdiction.

Public health care service

The health care services, including first aid and medical rescue units, provide medical services to the population and to the intervention resources. These may include prevention and psychological assistance. First aid and rescue services are a primary intervention resource. The health care system in Switzerland is regulated at cantonal level.

Technical services

The technical services ensure that the electricity, water and gas supply, waste disposal, transport and IT function normally, or are made operational by emergency measures. They fulfil their tasks independently.

Civil protection organisation (CPO)

The CPO, an additional civil protection organisation, provides the protective infrastructure (e.g. shelters) and the resources to alert the population (e.g. siren system), cares for persons in need of protection or shelter, and is responsible for the protection of cultural property. Where necessary CPO supports the partner organisations over longer periods of time (days to months). CPO is in charge of repair to avert consequential damage and provides services to reinforce management support and logistics. It may also be called upon to carry out various tasks for the benefit of the community. CPO is part of the compulsory national service system. The cantons regulate CPO issues within the general legislative framework set up by the Confederation.

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