Boilers Bill 2024 defines 'accident' as explosion or uncontrolled steam release

It seeks to establish uniformity in the registration and inspection of boilers and their components across the country.

Who it concerns: The law applies to all boilers and boiler components, including those belonging to the Central and State Governments. It affects manufacturers, owners, users, and welders of boilers. It explicitly excludes locomotive boilers under railway control, boilers in steam-propelled vessels, boilers under the control of the Army, Navy, or Air Force, and sterilizer/disinfector boilers in hospitals or nursing homes with a capacity not exceeding 100 litres.

What the bill does

• Constitution of a Central Boilers Board to regulate design, manufacture, erection, and use of boilers and make regulations.
• Appointment of a Technical Adviser to assist the Board and Central Government.
• State Governments appoint Chief Inspectors, Deputy Chief Inspectors, and Inspectors to oversee local compliance.
• Requirement for welders to obtain a certificate from a recognized competent authority before undertaking boiler welding work.
• Mandatory inspection during the manufacture and erection of boilers.
• Prohibition on the use of unregistered or uncertified boilers.
• Establishment of a registration and certification system for boilers, including provisions for renewal, transfer, and revocation.
• Powers granted to Inspectors to enter premises and report accidents.
• Provisions for appeals to the Chief Inspector and the Central Government.
• Penalties for minor offences, illegal use of boilers, tampering with register marks, and breach of rules.
• Power of the Central and State Governments to make rules and regulations.
• Repeal of previous laws related to boilers (Clause 45).

Also in the document

• The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on August 8, 2024.
• It defines 'accident' specifically as an explosion or uncontrolled release of water/steam liable to cause death, injury, or property damage.
• It defines 'boiler' to exclude pressure vessels with capacity less than 25 litres, design/working gauge pressure less than 1 kg/cm², or water heated below 100 degrees centigrade.
• Inspectors are deemed public servants under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.