Circular No. 02/1998/TT-BCN guiding the inspection and testing of pressure equipment and lifting devices in the industrial sector

CIRCULAR

HGuidelines for inspecting and testing pressure equipment and lifting devices in the Industry sector
and lifting equipment in the Industry sector

Pursuant to Decision No. 378/TTg dated June 4, 1997 of the Prime Minister on the functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of the Technical Safety Inspection and Supervision Bureau;

Pursuant to Circular No. 2812/CCHC dated June 5, 1997 of the Government Prime Minister on registration and issuance of permits for the use of machinery and equipment with strict requirements for labor safety in the industry sector;

Pursuant to Circular No. 2812/CCHC dated June 5, 1997 of the Prime Minister on registration and licensing for the use of machinery and equipment with strict requirements for labor safety in the industry sector;

The Ministry of Industry hereby issues guidelines for inspecting and testing pressure equipment and lifting devices as follows:

For office premises of agencies and units under the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense, they shall be implemented according to separate guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense after consultation with the Ministry of Finance.

All enterprises, agencies, organizations, and individuals in the industry sector throughout the country (including joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises located in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) that use pressure equipment specified in Vietnamese standards TCVN 6004-1995, TCVN 4245-1996, TCVN 6014-1996, TCVN 6153-1996, TCVN 6158-1996, TCVN 6159-1996, and lifting equipment specified in Vietnamese standards: TCVN 4244-1986, TCVN 5180-1990, TCVN 5744-1993, TCVN 5862-1995, TCVN 5863-1995, TCVN 5864-1995, TCVN 5865-1995, TCVN 5866-1995, TCVN 5867-1995, equipment specified in Decision No. 121/QĐ-LĐTBXH and Circular No. 22/TT-LĐTBXH of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, and shaft-type lifting equipment used in mines not covered by the above standards and circulars must uniformly implement management at the Industrial Safety Inspection and Supervision Bureau and provincial industrial departments. Inspections and tests shall be conducted by technical safety inspection centers under the Industrial Technical Safety Inspection and Supervision Bureau of the Ministry of Industry as the basis for the State Labor Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs to issue usage licenses.

II. REGULATIONS ON INSPECTION AND TESTING WORK

Statistics and planning for inspections and tests:

Each year in December, units in the industry sector must compile statistics on equipment and develop plans for the following year's inspections and tests to submit to the Industrial Technical Safety Inspection and Supervision Bureau and regional technical safety inspection centers.

The format for statistics and test plans is attached as an appendix to this circular.

When the inspection and testing period arrives, units must notify the regional technical safety inspection center ten days in advance so that staff can be arranged to conduct the work.

For subsequent annual statistics, units that have already compiled statistics in the previous year only need to supplement statistics for equipment that has changed (newly installed, moved, or removed).

Post-manufacture testing:

Equipment listed in Section I, after manufacture, must undergo testing by technical safety inspection centers and be issued a factory release certificate.

During factory release testing, all required documentation according to the specifications of each type of equipment, consistent with relevant TCVN standards and procedures, must be provided.

Post-installation testing:

Post-installation testing must include the following documentation:

Approved installation design drawings.

Equipment history and factory release documentation.

Installation documentation including welding diagrams and results of quality checks on welds.

Documentation as prescribed by TCVN standards.

Testing must be carried out strictly in accordance with established procedures.

After completing the testing, inspectors must prepare a report with signatures from the inspectors and the equipment management unit as the basis for applying for a usage license.

For boilers, post-installation testing must involve two steps: cold testing and hot testing.

For systems of gas production stations and refrigeration systems, after hydraulic endurance testing, they must undergo leak testing in accordance with the provisions of TCVN standards and the boiler inspection procedures issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Regular or irregular testing:

Cases of regular or irregular testing must comply with the provisions of TCVN standards.

Prior to conducting regular or irregular testing, units using equipment must notify the regional technical safety inspection center ten days in advance to arrange the schedule. If the center cannot arrange the schedule within the notified timeframe, it must renegotiate with the units to ensure timely support for production.

Equipment registered and tested by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs or the Ministry of Industry before June 20, 1997, and still within their validity period, will undergo testing when their next renewal period arrives. In cases of irregular testing, units must prepare repair documentation and include it in the equipment history.

The Director of the Industrial Technical Safety Inspection and Supervision Bureau shall establish specific regulations for other particular cases.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Technical Safety and Quality Inspection Department shall be responsible for:

The Industrial Technical Safety Inspection and Supervision Bureau is responsible for:

Conducting regular or spot checks on all units in the industry regarding technical safety management of equipment with strict labor safety requirements.

Monitoring, urging, and guiding technical safety inspection centers to accurately and timely inspect the equipment mentioned in Section I to meet production needs and equipment safety requirements.

Organizing training, examinations, and issuing certificates for operators and equipment mentioned in Section I, including pressure welders.

Organizing training, examinations, issuing certificates, and cards for inspectors and testers in the industry.

Periodically compiling reports for leadership of the Ministry and state agencies on inspection and testing activities across the industry.

Conducting inspection and certification of all equipment mentioned in Section I within the prescribed deadline.

Technical safety inspection centers are responsible for:

The Center is responsible for transferring the inspection files to the State Labor Safety Inspection Agencies to process the permit issuance procedures. If units undertake the application for permits themselves, the Center will transfer all the inspection files to the inspected unit.

Technical safety inspectors from the Industrial Technical Safety Inspection Center must have equipment and uniforms as prescribed, wear identification badges, and carry inspector identification cards when visiting units.

Industrial Technical Safety Inspection Centers are authorized to charge inspection fees according to the provisions set forth in Circular 66/TT/LB dated August 29, 1995, jointly issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, and Circular 1180/CV-TCKT dated April 8, 1996, issued by the Ministry of Industry. All financial expenditures must be carried out strictly in accordance with state regulations and those of the Ministry.

The Ministry permits the Bureau of Technical Safety Supervision and Inspection and Industrial Technical Safety Inspection Centers to utilize cooperating personnel and delegate tasks partially to Provincial Departments of Industry. Inspectors must undergo training, examination, and obtain certification from the Bureau of Technical Safety Supervision and Inspection.

Regularly report consolidated inspection work to the Bureau of Technical Safety Supervision and Inspection so that the Bureau can report to the Ministry and other state agencies.

3. Provincial Departments of Industry are responsible for:

Implementing state management over local industrial zones, ensuring adequate staffing with appropriate expertise to handle such management duties.

Inspecting local industrial units using equipment mentioned in Section I to ensure strict compliance with state regulations.

Urging local industrial units to compile statistics and develop annual inspection plans.

Coordinating plans and implementation methods for inspection work with the Bureau of Technical Safety Supervision and Inspection and Industrial Technical Safety Inspection Centers under the Ministry of Industry, enabling these centers to process applications with State Labor Safety Inspection Agencies for usage permits.

Organizing training, examinations, and issuing certificates to workers operating equipment listed in Section I within local industrial units.

4. Units using equipment mentioned in Section I in the industry sector are responsible for:

Regularly maintaining the equipment listed in Section I to ensure quality and safe operation.

Compiling statistics and developing annual inspection plans to report to the Bureau of Technical Safety Supervision and Inspection and the regional Industrial Technical Safety Inspection Center.

Completing all documentation for the types of inspections specified in Section II.

Submitting equipment for inspection at the times stipulated in the plan and permit.

Preparing for the inspection process by arranging space, cleaning equipment, and preparing tools (water, electricity, loads, manpower, etc.) to facilitate the inspection work, providing every condition necessary for inspectors to conduct inspections smoothly and efficiently.

IV. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION:

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of signature.

Any previous regulations contrary to this Circular are hereby abolished.

The Minister of Industry requires all units in the sector to implement this Circular strictly as prescribed.