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Common sense! 40 Facts about Special Equipment Safety 1. What are special equipment? Special equipment refers to boilers, pressure vessels (including gas cylinders, the same below), pressure pipelines, elevators, lifting machinery, passenger cableways, large-scale amusement facilities, and special motor vehicles used within premises that are related to life safety and involve a high degree of risk. 2. What is a boiler? A boiler is a device that uses various fuels, electricity, or other forms of energy to heat the liquid contained within it to certain parameters, thereby generating thermal energy for external use; it is defined as a pressurized steam boiler with a volume of 30 liters or more ； Pressure-bearing hot water boilers with an outlet water pressure of 0.1 MPa (gauge pressure) or higher, and a rated power of 0.1 MW or higher ； Organic heat carrier boiler. 3. What is a pressure vessel? Pressure vessels refer to closed devices used for holding gases or liquids and subjected to certain pressures. They include both fixed and mobile containers in which the maximum operating pressure is 0.1 MPa (gauge pressure) or higher, and the product of pressure and volume is 2.5 MPa·L or higher, and which are used for gases, liquefied gases, and liquids whose maximum operating temperature is equal to or higher than their standard boiling point ； Gas cylinders, liquefied gas cylinders, and cylinders for liquids with a standard boiling point of 60°C or lower, whose nominal working pressure at full charge is greater than or equal to 0.2 MPa (gauge pressure), and whose product of pressure and volume is greater than or equal to 1.0 MPa·L ； Oxygen chambers, etc. 4. What is a pressure pipeline? Pressure pipelines refer to tubular devices that use a certain pressure to transport gases or liquids. They are defined as pipelines for gas, liquefied gas, steam, or liquid media that are flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, and have a maximum operating temperature equal to or higher than their standard boiling point, with a maximum operating pressure of 0.1 MPa (gauge pressure), and a nominal diameter of 50 mm or more. 5. What is an elevator? An elevator is a mechanical and electrical device that is powered and uses a cage moving along rigid guides or steps moving along fixed tracks to lift or transport people and goods horizontally; it includes passenger (cargo) elevators, escalators, and moving walkways. 6. What is a lifting machine? Crane machinery refers to electromechanical equipment used for the vertical lifting or lifting followed by horizontal movement of heavy objects; it is defined as elevators with a rated lifting capacity of 0.5 tons or more ； Cranes with a rated lifting capacity of 3 tons or more, and a lifting height of 2 meters or more, as well as electric hoists with fixed load-bearing configurations, etc. 7. What is a passenger cable car? A passenger cableway is a mechanical and electrical device that is powered and uses flexible ropes to pull carriers such as cabins in order to transport people, including aerial passenger cableways, cable cars for passenger transport, and towed passenger cableways. 8. What are large amusement rides? Large amusement rides refer to facilities used for commercial purposes to carry passengers for entertainment; they are defined as large passenger-carrying amusement rides with a designed maximum operating speed of 2 m/s or more, or an operating height of 2 m or more above the ground. 9. What are special motor vehicles used within a plant or facility? Special motor vehicles used within a site (factory) refer to those specialized motor vehicles that are used solely in specific areas such as factory premises, tourist attractions, and amusement parks, other than on road traffic or for agricultural purposes. 10. What are the oversight steps for special equipment? Supervision and inspection are carried out on the production, operation, and use units of special equipment, as well as on the inspection and testing institutions. 11. In what situations are special equipment not subject to the Special Equipment Safety Law? **The Safety Inspection Law for Special Equipment does not apply to the safety inspection of equipment, nuclear facilities, aerospace vehicles, railway locomotives, marine facilities and ships, as well as special equipment used in underground mines and specialized equipment for civil airports. The supervision and management of the installation and use of lifting machinery at building construction sites and municipal engineering sites, as well as of special motor vehicles used on such sites, are carried out by the construction administrative authorities in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. 12. Are elevators that pass the annual inspection necessarily safe? Not necessarily; the annual regular inspection of elevators is mainly aimed at checking whether the safety devices of the elevators are complete and functional. However, if elevators that have passed the inspections are not maintained in a timely manner, or if the maintenance is inadequate, they can still develop faults and problems. This requires the unit to keep proper inspection records during regular patrols, and to urge the maintenance company to carry out proper maintenance of the elevators. 13. Why can old elevators still pass the inspections? There are currently some elevators that have been in use for over a decade, and many people wonder why such old elevators can still pass the inspection. There is no specified service life for elevators; in some countries, elevators that are over 100 years old are still in use. Just like vehicle inspections, as long as some older cars are repaired, they can still pass the inspection. The key is for the using unit to strengthen management and urge the maintenance unit to carry out proper maintenance work. 14. What requirements should elevator passengers follow to use the elevator properly? (1) Comply with the safety precautions for elevators and the requirements of warning signs. (2) Do not use elevators that are clearly in an abnormal condition. (3) Do not use unsafe methods to open the elevator floor doors. (4) Do not remove or damage elevators and their auxiliary facilities. (5) Do not use elevators that exceed their rated load; do not overload them when transporting goods. (6) Do not engage in any other activities that endanger the safe operation of the elevator or the safe riding of others. 15. What should be done in the event of a trapped elevator? When passengers encounter a stuck elevator, the most important thing is to stay calm and keep their emotions under control, and not try to climb out of the elevator on their own. At the same time, locate the emergency alarm device inside the elevator, or tap on the cabin to send a distress signal to the outside. After that, passengers should wait inside the elevator for professionals to open the door and provide assistance; they must not attempt any improper self-rescue actions such as prying or forcing the door open. 16. How can you determine whether an elevator is within its inspection validity period when using it? Check the “next inspection date” on the “Safety Inspection Passed” label inside the elevator. 17. What is the inspection cycle for large amusement rides? 1 year. 18. What should be noted when using transportation facilities at parks and tourist attractions? Before riding, check whether the equipment you plan to use has a certification mark indicating it has passed inspection (the validity period of such certification is one year), and ensure that the personnel operating the amusement facilities are qualified for their job. Ride in an orderly manner in accordance with the relevant warning signs in the amusement park, while also taking proper measures to ensure your own safety. If you come across a decommissioned facility that lacks a compliance mark, do not use it; instead, you can call the complaint hotline of the market supervision department so that regulatory authorities can oversee its rectification and ensure the safe and proper operation of all registered facilities in the city. 19. Are cable cars safe modes of transportation? Passenger cable cars are very safe modes of transportation; statistics show that their safety level is higher than that of other modes such as cars, trains, airplanes, and ships. To ensure the safe operation of cable cars, our country has established safety regulations for passenger cable cars, and has also set up the **Passenger Aerial Cable Car Safety Supervision and Inspection Center**, which is dedicated to overseeing, inspecting, and managing the safety of such cable cars. The construction of each passenger cable car goes through strict approval procedures, and there are rigorous regulations governing its design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, inspection, personnel training, and safety management. 20. Who are the operators of special equipment? Workers operating boilers, pressure vessels, elevators, lifting machinery, passenger cable cars, large-scale amusement facilities, and special-purpose motor vehicles used within sites (factories), as well as the relevant management personnel, are collectively referred to as special equipment operators. 21. Units using special equipment shall establish safety and technical archives for such equipment. What should be included in a safety technology file? (1) Design documents for special equipment, the manufacturing unit, product quality certification, operation and maintenance instructions, as well as installation technical documents and materials. (2) Records of regular inspections and periodic self-inspections of special equipment. (3) Records of the daily usage status of special equipment. (4) Records of the routine maintenance of special equipment, as well as its safety accessories, safety protection devices, measurement and control devices, and related auxiliary instruments and meters. (5) Records of operational failures and accidents of special equipment. (6) Energy efficiency test reports for high-energy-consuming special equipment, records of energy consumption, and technical documents related to energy-saving upgrades. 22. What are the safety responsibilities of the legal representative of an enterprise that operates special equipment? (1) Be fully responsible for the safety of special equipment in this unit. (2) Organize the implementation of laws and administrative regulations related to work safety, such as the Special Equipment Safety Law and the Regulations on the Supervision of Special Equipment Safety, to ensure the safe use of special equipment. (3) Appoint a person responsible for the safety of special equipment within the unit, and establish a management organization for the safety of such equipment. (4) Make decisions on major matters related to the safety management of special equipment. 23. What are the responsibilities of the person in charge of special equipment safety? (1) Organize the implementation of laws, regulations, and rules related to work safety, such as the Special Equipment Safety Law and the Regulations on the Supervision of Special Equipment Safety, to ensure the safe use of special equipment. (2) Organize and implement the hierarchical safety responsibility system and post responsibility system for special equipment. (3) Establish and improve management systems for the safe use of special equipment as well as safety operation procedures. (4) Supervise, inspect, and guide the work of the organizations and personnel responsible for the safety management of special equipment, as well as provide employees with education on safety knowledge related to such equipment. (5) Regularly organize safety inspections of special equipment within the unit, and preside over safety analysis meetings. (6) Organize the formulation of practical emergency response measures and rescue plans for special equipment accidents, and conduct regular emergency rescue drills. (7) Actively cooperate with the safety supervision and inspection by the authorities in charge of special equipment safety, as well as with the regular inspections carried out by inspection agencies. (8) In the event of an accident involving special equipment, immediately organize rescue efforts and report to the relevant authorities. 24. What are the responsibilities of a safety manager for special equipment? (1) Promote, implement, and enforce laws, regulations, rules related to work safety such as the Special Equipment Safety Law and the Regulations on the Supervision of Special Equipment Safety, as well as various safety management systems, in order to ensure the safe use of special equipment. (2) Supervise and guide the unit in purchasing and using special equipment that complies with safety technical standards in accordance with the law, and be responsible for the daily management of various aspects related to such equipment, including installation, acceptance, registration for use, operation, periodic inspections, maintenance, repair, modification, as well as shutdown and disposal. (3) Responsible for establishing registers and safety technical files for special equipment, formulating safety management systems and operating procedures for such equipment, and keeping records of operation, maintenance, repairs, and accidents. (4) Conduct regular inspections of the condition of special equipment; any issues identified must be addressed immediately. In emergency situations, it is possible to decide to stop using the special equipment and report this promptly to the person in charge of the enterprise. (5) For special equipment that has malfunctioned or shown abnormal behavior, a comprehensive inspection should be conducted immediately to eliminate potential accident risks. (6) Regularly organize safety education and training for personnel operating special equipment, to ensure that they possess the necessary knowledge regarding safe operation of such equipment and work with valid certificates. (7) Formulate emergency response measures and rescue plans for special equipment accidents, and conduct regular drills. (8) Cooperate with the safety supervision and inspection by the authorities in charge of special equipment safety, as well as the regular inspections conducted by inspection agencies. (9) In the event of an accident involving special equipment, emergency measures must be taken immediately, and the matter should be reported to the company’s management as well as the relevant authorities. 25. What is the maintenance cycle for elevators? Elevators should be cleaned, lubricated, adjusted, and inspected at least once every 15 days. 26. How quickly should the elevator maintenance company arrive at the scene in case of an elevator entrapment? Within 30 minutes. 27. What are the types of maintenance for elevators? Elevator maintenance is divided into semi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual maintenance. 28. What are the safety protection devices of elevators? The elevator itself is a sophisticated transportation device, equipped with various safety measures to eliminate risks such as falls and top collisions. As long as elevators are used properly and undergo regular maintenance and inspection, no safety accidents will occur. The main safety devices include speed governors, safety brakes, and buffers. 29. What precautions should be taken while waiting for the elevator? ①Press the button gently; do not press it repeatedly once it lights up ； ②Do not tap or strike the button with sharp or hard objects ； ③While waiting for the elevator, it is strictly prohibited to lean against the elevator doors ； ④Do not push, strike, kick the sectional door, or use any object to pry it open. 30. Can children use the elevator alone? No. When children take the elevator alone without adult supervision, their inability to operate the elevator buttons properly can result in them getting trapped inside the elevator car. Especially in the event of an elevator malfunction, they are unable to communicate with the outside world and receive timely rescue, increasing the risk of accidents. 31. Some children are mischievous in the elevator and press all the floor buttons; suddenly, all the buttons stop lighting up and the elevator doesn’t move. Is this a malfunction? No. Some elevators are equipped with anti-disturbance functions for such situations; once the call signal is selected again, the elevator will start operating. 32. What is the inspection cycle for elevators? One year. 33. When should special equipment have its use registration completed, before it is put into use or within how much time after it is put into use? Special equipment shall be registered with the special equipment safety supervision and management department of a municipality directly under the Central Government or a city divided into districts within 30 days before it is put into use or after it is put into use. 34. What are the general requirements for the use management by entities that operate special equipment? It can be summarized as “three implementations and two certifications”; by properly carrying out these tasks, the safe use of special equipment is ensured fundamentally. “The content of the “three implementations” is: implementing the work safety responsibility system ； Implement safety management organizations, personnel, as well as various management systems and operating procedures ； Implement regular inspections. “The meaning of “two certificates” is that special equipment is used with a use registration certificate (qualification mark) ； Personnel operating special equipment must work with valid certificates. 35. Why do special equipment need to be inspected regularly? Regular inspections are **legal and mandatory inspections carried out on special equipment. Through such inspections, potential safety hazards can be identified and eliminated in a timely manner, thereby preventing accidents and helping to extend the service life of the equipment while ensuring its safe and efficient operation. 36. What obligations should elevator users fulfill during daily use? (1) Appoint dedicated management personnel to be responsible for the daily supervision and management of elevators, and establish safety technical records for each elevator on a case-by-case basis. (2) Display the “Use Registration” mark and the “Safety Inspection Passed” mark in a prominent position on the equipment. (3) Assign an elevator operator in accordance with the elevator operation instructions. (4) Establish an elevator duty officer post at a location where the alarm signal can be received. (5) One month before the expiration of the validity period of the \"Safety Inspection Passed\" mark, submit an inspection request to the elevator inspection and testing agency. (6) Formulate emergency prevention measures and rescue plans for elevator accidents. 37. What other obligations do the users of special equipment have? (1) The Safety Law for Special Equipment, as well as relevant laws and administrative regulations on work safety, must be strictly implemented to ensure the safe use of special equipment. (2) Special equipment shall be used that is manufactured by manufacturers with the corresponding manufacturing qualifications for special equipment and meets the requirements of safety technical specifications. (3) Safety technical records for special equipment shall be established. (4) Regular daily maintenance should be carried out on the special equipment in use, and self-inspections should be conducted periodically (at least once a month). The safety accessories, safety protection devices, measurement and control devices, as well as related auxiliary instruments of such equipment must be regularly calibrated and serviced, with records kept of these activities. (5) Special equipment operators shall receive safety education and training on special equipment to ensure that they possess the necessary knowledge for safe operation of such equipment. (6) In the event of a malfunction or abnormal condition in special equipment, the user unit shall conduct a thorough inspection; only after eliminating potential accident hazards can the equipment be put back into use. (7) If special equipment poses serious accident risks, has no value for renovation or repair, or has exceeded the service life specified in the safety technical regulations, the user shall promptly scrap it and go through the cancellation procedures with the original department responsible for the supervision and management of special equipment safety. (8) In the event of an accident involving special equipment, the entity responsible for the accident must promptly take effective measures to organize rescue efforts, prevent the accident from spreading, and reduce casualties and property losses. It must also, in accordance with **relevant regulations**, report the incident in a timely and truthful manner to the departments responsible for work safety supervision and management, as well as other relevant authorities such as those in charge of special equipment safety supervision and management. It is prohibited to conceal, misreport, or delay reporting. (9) Emergency response measures and rescue plans for special equipment should be established. 38. Do the operators of boilers, pressure vessels, elevators, lifting machinery, passenger cableways, and large-scale amusement facilities, as well as the relevant management personnel (collectively referred to as special equipment operators), need training? Units that operate special equipment shall provide safety education and training for the personnel who work with such equipment. They must pass assessments conducted by the authorities responsible for supervising special equipment safety in accordance with relevant regulations, and obtain certificates in a standardized format before they can carry out the corresponding tasks or take on management responsibilities. This ensures that these workers possess the necessary knowledge regarding safe operation of special equipment. 39. How should malfunctions or abnormal conditions in special equipment be handled? The user unit shall conduct a comprehensive inspection of it; it can be put back into use only after potential accident hazards have been eliminated. 40. What should be done with special equipment that poses serious accident risks, has no value for renovation or repair, or has exceeded the service life specified in the safety technical standards? The entity using the special equipment shall promptly scrap it and go through the cancellation procedures with the original department responsible for the safety supervision and management of such equipment.