New standards for the safety management of special equipment: Criteria for identifying 10 types of major hazards are set to be released!

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Recently, the **State Administration for Market Regulation has finally released a draft of the \"Methods for Determining Major Accident Hazards in Special Equipment\" (with a deadline of October 6, 2024); specialized assessment methods for the special equipment sector are also on the way! Let’s delve into it together. I. Overview of the Standards: For the first time, these standards define what constitutes major hidden dangers associated with special equipment, including violations of regulations, ineffective risk management, and unsafe conditions of the equipment, as well as methods for identifying and assessing such hidden dangers. It is applicable to the safety management during the use of special equipment, ensuring the safe operation of such equipment and protecting people’s lives and property. II. Methods for identifying potential hazards Identifying potential hazards is a key aspect of safety management. According to the standards, the inspection methods include self-inspections by users, supervision and inspections by authorities responsible for the safety supervision and management of special equipment, supervisory inspections and periodic inspections conducted by special equipment inspection agencies, as well as inspections by other government departments. III. Assessment Methods: The standards detail the criteria for identifying major accident hazards related to special equipment, covering situations such as production without a license, failure to conduct a thorough inspection after an accident, and lack of supervision during inspections or failure to pass such inspections. It is specifically noted that for equipment such as boilers, pressure vessels, pressure pipelines, elevators, and lifting machinery, issues such as failed regular inspections, missing or malfunctioning safety devices should all be considered as major potential accident hazards. Pressure-bearing safety accessories (safety valves, rupture discs, emergency shut-off valves, cylinder valves, etc.) are also included in the corresponding main equipment. Special equipment is produced without a permit, **is explicitly designated for elimination, has already been scrapped or meets the conditions for scrapping, yet continues to be used. Special equipment that has experienced an accident or shows obvious faults is continued to be used without undergoing a thorough inspection to eliminate potential hazards. Continued use without supervision and inspection, or when the supervision and inspection results are unsatisfactory. IV. Safety Management Recommendations: Strengthen self-inspections: The using units should conduct regular self-inspections to identify and address potential hazards in a timely manner. Emphasize supervision: The departments responsible for the safety supervision of special equipment should strengthen inspections to ensure that standards are properly implemented. Regular inspections: Special equipment inspection agencies shall conduct inspections as required to ensure that the equipment meets safety standards. Technical support: For the determination of complex security risks, professional technical support can be sought. In Sections 5.1–5.10 of this standard, the items subject to inspection and assessment by the authorities responsible for the safety supervision and management of special equipment are limited to 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 5.4.1, 5.5.1, 5.6.1 to 5.6.3, 5.7.1 to 5.7.4, 5.8.1 to 5.8.3, 5.9.1 to 5.9.3, and 5.10.1 to 5.10.3. Other items must be evaluated through supervision and inspection, periodic inspection, or appropriate technical support. In cases where other situations besides those specified in Clauses 5.1–5.10 of this standard may potentially lead to special accidents, the user unit may make a judgment based on the severity of the circumstances, the likelihood of an accident occurring, and the potential consequences. V. Explanation by category: Boilers 5.2 Boilers that are still in use under any of the following circumstances should be considered to pose a serious hazard: 5.2.1 The results of regular inspections indicate that they do not meet the required standards. 5.2.2 Missing safety valve (rupture disc). 5.2.3 Failure of thermal instruments or interruption of the control power supply results in an inability to monitor and adjust key operating parameters. 5.2.4 Failure of the safety valve (burst disc). 5.2.5 Absence or failure of system alarm devices. 5.2.6 Lack or failure of interlocking protection devices. 5.2.7 Lack or failure of the flameout protection device. 5.2.8 Leakage of pressure components during operation, inability of liquid slag discharge boilers to discharge slag, and red heating of the furnace walls. 5.2.9 Damage to the combustion equipment, collapse of the furnace walls, or heating up of the boiler framework pose a serious threat to the safe operation of the boiler. 5.2.10 Leakage in the main steam and water pipes of power plant boilers, or rupture of connecting pipes within the boiler area. Pressure vessels 5.3 Pressure vessels that continue to be in use under any of the following circumstances shall be deemed to pose a serious hazard. 5.3.1 5.3.2 The results of regular inspections indicate that they do not meet the required standards. 5.3.2 Converting fixed-pressure vessels for use as mobile-pressure vessels. 5.3.3 The safety valves, rupture discs, and emergency shut-off devices of fixed-pressure vessels and mobile-pressure vessels are missing or defective. 5.3.4 The quick-opening safety interlock device for quick-opening fixed pressure vessels is missing or defective. 5.3.5 The grounding device of the oxygen cabin is missing or defective. 5.3.6 Missing or ineffective cylinder valves, safety relief devices, and emergency shut-off devices. Pressure pipelines 5.4 Pressure pipelines that are still in use under any of the following circumstances shall be deemed to pose a serious hazard: 5.4.1 The results of regular inspections indicate that they do not meet the requirements or are not suitable for use. 5.4.2 Absence or failure of safety valves, rupture disc devices, and emergency shut-off devices. Filling of mobile pressure vessels or gas cylinders 5.5 Filling of mobile pressure vessels or gas cylinders under any of the following circumstances shall be deemed a major accident hazard: 5.5.1 Engaging in the filling of mobile pressure vessels or gas cylinders without permission. 5.5.2 Incorrect medium filling in mobile pressure vessels and gas cylinders. 5.5.3 The emergency shut-off devices on the filling equipment and facilities are missing or malfunctioning. Elevators 5.6 Elevators that are still in use under any of the following circumstances should be considered to pose a serious hazard: 5.6.1 When the inspection results indicate “unqualified” or “unqualified upon re-inspection”. 5.6.2 Failure of the anti-pinch devices for passenger and freight elevator doors. 5.6.3 Missing or malfunctioning emergency stop switches for escalators and moving walkways. 5.6.4 The safety circuit of the passenger and freight elevator doors has been short-circuited. 5.6.5 When the distance between the outer edge of the handrail on escalators and moving walkways and any obstacles is less than 400 mm, protective guards are not installed as required. Crane machinery 5.7 Crane machinery that continues to be in use under any of the following circumstances shall be deemed to pose a serious hazard: 5.7.1 Without undergoing supervision inspection or the initial inspection. 5.7.2 If the results of the surveillance inspection, initial inspection, or periodic inspection (including re-inspection) are “unqualified”. 5.7.3 Lack or failure of the emergency stop switch. 5.7.4 Lack of lifting capacity limiters, lifting torque limiters, fall prevention devices, and overload detection systems. 5.7.5 Failure of the lifting capacity limiter, lifting torque limiter, fall arrest safety device, or overload detection device. 5.8 A passenger cable car that continues to be in use under any of the following circumstances shall be deemed to pose a serious hazard: 5.8.1 The inspection result is “unqualified” or “unqualified upon re-inspection”. 5.8.2 Missing emergency stop switches in the control room, on the platform, and in the machine room. 5.8.3 The lift car, basket, and passenger door cannot be locked and are not out of service. 5.8.4 Auxiliary equipment and backup power supplies cannot operate properly. 5.8.5 In the event of a failure in the safety circuit of the electrical system, operation shall be continued by using short-circuiting. Large amusement rides 5.9 Large amusement rides that continue to be in use under any of the following circumstances should be considered to pose a serious hazard: 5.9.1 When the inspection results indicate “unqualified”. 5.9.2 Lack of passenger restraint devices such as seat belts, safety bars, and safety rails. 5.9.3 Missing cabin door locking device. 5.9.4 The braking devices, limit devices, anti-collision and cushioning devices, reverse prevention devices, speed control devices, and cabin safety protection devices are missing or malfunctioning, or the passenger restraint systems are not functioning properly. 5.9.5 Excessive defects such as cracks and severe deformation occur in the main load-bearing components, important welds, and critical bolts. Special motor vehicles used within a plant or facility: 5.10 Special motor vehicles used within a plant or facility that continue to be in use under any of the following circumstances should be considered to represent a serious hazard. 5.10.1 Those that have not undergone their initial inspection. 5.10.2 The conclusion of the initial inspection or periodic inspection is “unqualified”. 5.10.3 Absence or failure of the power supply emergency cut-off device. 5.10.4 Absence or failure of braking (including service and parking) systems. 5.10.5 The traction coupling device and its secondary protection device of the sightseeing train are missing or ineffective.