Current through Bulletin 2024-18, September 15, 2024
A. Purpose -- Section 34A-7-10 of the Safety
Act ("the Act"; Title 34A, Chapter 7, Part One, Utah Code Annotated) permits
the Division of Boiler, Elevator and Coal Mine Safety ("the Division") to
authorize qualified individuals to inspect boilers and pressure vessels as
"deputy inspectors." This rule sets forth the Division's procedures and
standards for authorizing deputy inspectors, monitoring their performance, and
suspending or revoking such authority when appropriate.
B. Initial appointment of deputy inspectors.
1. An applicant for initial Division
authorization to inspect boilers and pressure vessels as a deputy inspector
must satisfy the following requirements in the order listed below:
a. A company insuring boilers and pressure
vessels in Utah ("sponsoring employer" hereafter) must submit a letter to the
Division certifying that:
i. the applicant is
employed by the sponsoring employer; and
ii. the sponsoring employer requests the
Division authorize the applicant to inspect boilers and pressure vessels
insured by that employer;
b. The applicant or sponsoring employer must
submit to the Division a current, valid certification from the National Board
of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Certification ("National Board") that the
applicant is qualified to inspect boilers and pressure vessels;
c. The applicant or sponsoring employer must
submit an application fee of $25 to the Division;
d. The applicant must complete training for
deputy inspectors provided by the Division;
e. The applicant must pass an oral
examination administered by the Division pertaining to boiler and pressure
vessel inspection standards and processes; and
f. The applicant must pass a written,
closed-book examination administered by the Division on the Division's
boiler/Pressure Vessel Compliance Manual, Rules, and codes adopted;
2. Upon successful completion of
the foregoing requirements, the Division will appoint the applicant as a deputy
inspector and will issue credentials to that effect. The Division will also
notify the sponsoring employer of the appointment.
3. Initial appointment as a deputy inspector
terminates at the end of the calendar year in which such appointment is made
unless a deputy inspector qualifies for reappointment under paragraph C of this
rule.
C. Annual
reappointment of deputy inspectors.
1.
Effective January 1 of each year, the Division will renew the appointment of
each deputy inspector for an additional year if the inspector satisfies the
following requirements:
a. The individual was
authorized to serve as a deputy inspector as of December 31 of the previous
year;
b. A sponsoring employer has
submitted a letter to the Division certifying that:
i. the individual is employed by the
sponsoring employer; and
ii. The
sponsoring employer requests the Division to reappoint that individual as a
deputy inspector to inspect boilers and pressure vessels for that
employer;
c. The
individual or sponsoring employer has submitted to the Division a current,
valid certification from the National Board establishing that the individual is
qualified as a boiler and pressure vessel inspector;
d. The individual or sponsoring employer has
submitted to the Division the required renewal fee of $20;
e. The individual has completed the
Division's required training for deputy inspectors.
2. An individual who does not meet each of
the foregoing requirements is not eligible for reappointment as a deputy
inspector and must instead meet each of the requirements for initial
appointment under paragraph B of this rule.
D. Lapse, change of employment and loss of
National Board certification.
1. Lapse. An
individual's appointment as a deputy inspector will lapse if the individual:
a. Does not renew the appointment by
satisfying the requirements of paragraph C of this rule;
b. Does not perform and submit to the
Division at least one boiler or pressure vessel inspection during the previous
calendar year; or
c. Fails to
inform the Division of any change in status of employment with his or her
sponsoring employer as required in the following paragraph D.2. of this
rule.
2. Change in
employment.
a. A deputy inspector must
immediately notify the Division in writing of any change in the status of the
inspector's employment with his or her sponsoring employer.
b. If the Division determines that an
individual previously appointed as a deputy inspector is no longer employed by
a company authorized to insure boilers and pressure vessels in Utah, the
Division will immediately revoke that individual's appointment.
c. If the Division determines that a deputy
inspector has changed employment to another company that insures boilers and
pressure vessels in Utah, the Division will require the new employer or deputy
inspector to submit the following:
i. A letter
from the new employer:
AA. certifying that the
individual is employed by that sponsoring employer; and
BB. requesting that the individual's
appointment as a deputy inspector be continued;
ii. A current, valid certification as a
boiler/pressure vessel inspector from the National Board; and
iii. Payment to the Division of the required
fee of $20.
3. National Board Certification.
a. Every deputy inspector shall at all times
hold a current valid certification as a boiler/pressure vessel inspector from
the National Board.
b. Each deputy
inspector shall immediately notify the Division if his or her National Board
certification has been revoked or suspended.
c. If the Division has reason to believe that
a deputy inspector's National Board certification has been revoked or
suspended, the Division will obtain written verification from the National
Board. IF the National Board has in fact revoked or suspended the deputy
inspector's certification, the Division will revoke the inspector's appointment
as a deputy inspector.
E. Scope of authority. Appointment as a
deputy inspector has the limited effect of authorizing the deputy inspector to
inspect boilers and pressure vessels insured by his or her sponsoring employer
for compliance with engineering codes and other standards adopted by the
Division in Utah Administrative Code Rule R616-2. The Division expressly does
not confer any other authority to deputy inspectors. Deputy inspectors remain
employees of their respective sponsoring employers and are not employees of the
Division or agents of the Division for any other purpose. A deputy inspector's
right to inspect any particular boiler or pressure vessel, including the deputy
inspector's right of entry on the premises where the boiler or pressure vessel
is located, is subject to the agreement between the sponsoring employers and
the owner or operator of the boiler or pressure vessel. Appointment as a deputy
inspector by the Division does not confer any right of entry independent from
the terms of such agreement.
F.
Inspection Standards
1. In inspecting any
boiler or pressure vessel, a deputy inspector shall apply the standards and
engineering codes adopted in Utah Administrative Code R616-2 - Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Rules.
2. Each
deputy inspector must use the Division's web-based applications to accurately
record and submit all information regarding boilers and pressure vessels,
including;
a. inspection reports;
b. scrapped and inactive items;
c. information changes other than those
requiring submission of a Change of Insurance Status Form (NB4); and
d. a Web Issue Form (Form WIF-01) to identify
any error or other issue resulting from the deputy inspector's use of the
Division's web-based applications.
G. Quality Control. The Division will
evaluate the performance of each deputy inspector to assure compliance with the
Division's standards for boiler and pressure vessel inspections.
1. The Division's Business Analyst will
review each inspection report submitted by a deputy inspector and will report
any serious errors to the Chief Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspector ("Chief
Inspector") for appropriate action.
2. Each year, the Chief Inspector will
evaluate a sample of each deputy inspector's inspections performed during that
year for compliance with Division standards.
3. In addition to the reviews undertaken
pursuant to paragraph G.2. of this rule, the Chief Inspector will also
investigate any observation or report of an inspection deficiency to determine
whether the deputy inspector complied with Division standards and rules in
performing and reporting the inspection.
H. Corrective Action, Revocation and Right to
Hearing.
1. If the Chief Inspector concludes
that a deputy inspector does not satisfy requirements of this rule for
continued appointment as a deputy inspector or has performed an inspection in a
manner that is inconsistent with Division standards, the Chief Inspector will
submit a written report and may recommend corrective action to the Division
Director.
2. Depending on the
circumstances and the seriousness of the situation, corrective action may
include;
a. warning letter;
b. requirements for additional
training;
c. requirements for
retesting;
d. request review by the
National Board;
e. additional
supervision; and
f. revocation of
appointment as a deputy inspector.
3. The Division Director shall forward a copy
of the Chief Inspector's written report and any recommendation for corrective
action to the deputy inspector and the sponsoring employer. If the deputy
inspector or sponsoring employer dispute the report or recommended corrective
action, the Division Director shall schedule time and place to conduct a
hearing on the matter, such hearing to be conducted as an informal adjudicative
proceeding under the Utah Administrative Procedures Act. After conducting such
hearing, the Division Director will issue a written decision setting forth the
material facts and ordering appropriate corrective action, if any. The Division
Director shall forward a copy of the decision to the deputy inspector,
sponsoring employer, and the National Board.
4. If the deputy inspector or sponsoring
employer is dissatisfied with the Division Director's decision, the inspector
or sponsoring employer may seek judicial review as provided by the Utah
Administrative Procedures Act.