This part of the Directive includes a process under which the employer (Treasury Board) has delegated to the primary custodian of government property (Public Works and Government Services Canada) the responsibility for establishing contracts, on behalf of all custodian departments, with provincial or territorial boiler inspection authorities to ensure that inspections required by the Code, Part II [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-2/page-53.html#h-46] are carried out.
Scope
This part of the Directive enhances and supplements Part V (Boilers and Pressure Vessels) [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-304/page-14.html#h-46] of the COHSR and should be read in that context.
5.1 Inspection and Certification of New Installations and Major Repairs
5.1.1 The operating authority shall ensure that the provincial or territorial inspection agency has access to all plans and specifications relating to a new installation or major repair of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system.
5.1.2 Subject to this section, no boiler, pressure vessel or piping system shall be operated or used following its installation or a major repair until the boiler, pressure vessel or piping system has been inspected and certified by the provincial or territorial inspection agency (section 5.10 of the COHSR [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-304/page-16.html#h-51]).
5.1.3 If the provincial or territorial inspection agency is not prepared to provide the inspection and certification services referred to in this section, the operating authority shall ensure that the new installation or major repair is inspected by an authorized inspection agency and that documentation acceptable to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's (HRSDC's) Labour Program is obtained certifying that the newly installed or repaired boiler, pressure vessel or piping system complies with the requirements of this Directive and with the Code to the extent essential for the health and safety of employees.
5.2 Operation
5.2.1 No person shall operate or use, or permit the operation or use of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system
(a) unless it has been inspected by a qualified inspector in accordance with the requirements set out in section 5.4 and a valid record of inspection has been issued for that boiler, pressure vessel or piping system;
(b) unless every operator of it is qualified in accordance with this section; and
(c) at a pressure higher than its maximum allowable pressure.
5.2.2 The operating authority shall ensure
(a) that, if two or more boilers or pressure vessels are connected to each other in a plant for use at a common operating pressure, they are each fitted with one or more safety valves or other approved equivalent fittings to relieve pressure at or below the maximum allowable pressure of the weakest boiler or pressure vessel in the plant as shown on the certificate of inspection for that boiler or pressure vessel; and
(b) that no person alters, interferes with or renders inoperative any fitting attached to a boiler, pressure vessel or plant, except for adjusting or testing the fitting and on instructions from the inspection agency (section 5.5 of the COHSR [http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-304/page-15.html#h-50]).
5.2.3 The standards for controlling and supervising the operation of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems located in a province or territory are those standards established under the applicable provincial or territorial statute or ordinance.
5.2.4 Subject to the provisions of this section, the qualifications and requirements of an operator of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system are those qualifications and requirements established under the applicable provincial or territorial statute or ordinance.
5.2.5 Any person employed as an operator and holding a valid certificate of qualification issued by any province or territory or an authorized federal agency is considered qualified to operate a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system in any other province or territory for which an equivalent certificate is required.
5.3 Inspections – General
5.3.1 All boilers and pressure vessels shall be inspected by an authorized inspection agency.
5.3.2 The operating authority shall designate a provincial, territorial or other authorized inspection agency to carry out safety inspections of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems for specified geographical areas.
5.3.3 The designated inspection agency shall assign qualified inspectors to perform safety inspections of boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems in its geographical area.
5.3.4 The operating authority shall furnish the qualified inspectors employed by the designated inspection agency with accreditation identifying them as safety inspectors authorized to carry out the inspections. On producing their credentials, they shall, at any reasonable time, be permitted access to public service facilities in order to inspect any boiler, pressure vessel or piping system.
5.3.5 Operating authorities shall establish and maintain a list of all boilers, pressure vessels and piping systems for which they are responsible that are subject to the requirements of this Directive.
5.3.6 The operating authority shall ensure that, during any inspection of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system, a person attends who is capable of taking all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the person making the inspection.
5.3.7 The safety factor for a high-pressure lap-seam riveted boiler shall be increased by at least 0.1 kPa each year after 20 years of use and, if the boiler is relocated at any time, it shall not be operated at a pressure greater than 102 kPa.
5.4 Halon Systems
The employer is committed to reducing and preventing the release of halocarbons from air-conditioning, fire-extinguishing, refrigeration, and solvent systems and associated equipment in the workplace, in accordance with the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/SOR-2003-289/index.html] and will strive to eliminate the reliance on halon in the workplace.
(For additional information, visit Environment Canada's Stratospheric Ozone website: [http://www.ec.gc.ca/ozone/default.asp?lang=En&n=9090CC46-1]
5.5 Records
5.5.1 The operating authority shall keep every record referred to in this section for a period of at least 10 years after inspections are made at the workplace in which the boiler pressure vessel or piping system is located.
5.5.2 The inspector shall also direct that the boiler, pressure vessel or piping system be sealed in the manner prescribed, cancel the existing record of inspection and advise the regional director.
5.5.3 When the use of a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system has been prohibited, and the inspection agency is of the opinion that it cannot be repaired or the operating authority does not wish to have it repaired, the operating authority shall specify a method of disposal that will effectively prevent its further use in the public service.
5.5.4 The operating authority shall immediately notify the authorized inspection agency when any condition in a boiler, pressure vessel or piping system is discovered that may make its operation unsafe.