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WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1978
BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS (AMENDMENT) BILL ******
A BILL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FURTHER SAFEGUARD FOR INDUSTRIAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE USE OF PRESSURE EQUIPMENT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON,
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, MR. HENDERSON SAID THE BILL WAS THE RESULT OF A REVIEW OF THE MAIN ORDINANCE AND WAS AN EXERCISE IN UPDATING THE LAW IN THIS FIELD IN THE LIGHT OF PRACTICAL WORKING EXPERIENCE.
HE SAID THE BILL EXTENDS THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDINANCE TO VESSELS CONTAINING COMPRESSED INERT GASES WHICH IS CONNECTED WITH AN AIR OR GAS COMPRESSING PLANT BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL FOR DESTRUCTION.
IT ALSO CLARIFIES THE POWERS OF INSPECTORS OF LAND BOILERS- STIPULATES THAT THE ORDINANCE APPLIES TO BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY EXEMPTED WHERE OWNERSHIP CHANGES FROM THE CROWN- CLARIFIES THE SCOPE OF EXEMPTION ACCORDED TO ANY PRESSURE EQUIPMENT FIXED ON A FLOATING CRAFT OR INTENDED FOR SUPPLY LOCOMOTIVE POWER TO A VEHICLE, WHICH ARE COVERED EY OTHER LEGISLATION AND BROADENS THE POWER TO HOLD INQUIRIES INTO ALL ACCIDENTS IN OR TO BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS.
THE BILL FURTHER REQUIRES THAT TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE REGISTRAR OF BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS, IF WRITTEN IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH OR CHINESE, SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND THAT ALL APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF EQUIPMENT MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE EQUIPMENT IS PUT INTO USE.
IT ALSO MAKES PRESSURE ACCUMULATION TESTS OBLIGATORY IN THE CASE OF EXAMINATION OF NEW EQUIPMENT SPECIFIES THE PROCEDURE FOR CARRYING OUT PRESSURE ACCUMULATION TESTS ON BOILERS AND MORE REALISTIC TEST PRESSURES FOR HYDRAULIC TESTS OF EQUIPMENT- AND MAKES IT CLEAR THAT A PORTABLE GAS GENERATOR MAY REQUIRE EXAMINATION BEFORE PERMISSION IS GIVEN FOR IT TO BE USED.
MEASUREMENTS IN THE BILL ARE GIVEN IN IMPERIAL AS WELL AS METRIC UNITS, BECAUSE VERY OFTEN BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS HAVE BEEN IMPORTED WITH SPECIFICATIONS AND INSTRUMENTATIONS IN IMPERIAL UNITS. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GO FULLY METRIC IN THIS FIELD AT PRESENT.
THE BILL FINALLY REMOVES SPENT PROVISIONS WHICH DEALT WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDINANCE TO PRESSURE EQUIPMENT ALREADY
IN USE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE IN MARCH 1963.
REFERRING TO CONTAINERS WHICH HOLD NON-INERT (FLAMMABLE) GASES UNDER PRESSURE, MR. HENDERSON SAID A REPORT WOULD BE COMPILED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON THIS MATTER IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES AND OTHERS. RECOMMENDATIONS COULD THEN BE MADE AS TO WHETHER FURTHER AMENDMENTS WERE NEEDED OR NOT IN RESPECT OF THIS ORDINANCE OR OTHER LEGISLATION.
/COMIFFLING .....