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34. Examination of machines and other equipment
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Boilers, pressure vessels, cranes etc. and gondolas are designated as "Specified
machines and other equipment" and employers are obligated to obtain
permission for manufacturing, and undergo post-manufacturing inspection,
performance inspection, etc., since it is necessary to ensure the safety
of the machines and the safety of operations. Furthermore, employers are
obligated to satisfy many safety requirements on during operations.
However, for machines other than those designated as machines and other equipment, and that are used in dangerous or harmful places, it is necessary to ensure their safety also. Therefore, it is stipulated that unless certain machines and other equipment conform to the standards established by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, they must not be transferred, lent, or installed.
Furthermore, the machines and other equipment that are considered to be particularly necessary for prevention of danger and prevention of health impairment, are requested to undergo examination by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, etc. (See 4. Ordinance on Machine, Etc.)
The application, validity term, etc. of the examination are stipulated
in the Ordinance on Examination of Machines and Other Equipment. (The Industrial
Safety and Health Law, and the Ordinance on Examination of Machines and
Other Equipment.)
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| 1. Types of examinations, apparatuses to be examined, and validity terms
(Law, Article 44) |
| a. |
Individual examination (law, Article44; Order, Article 14; 14-2)
An individual examination is performed to examine each apparatus, and the validity term is not stipulated.
| · |
Rolling mills for kneading rubber, rubber compounds, or synthetic resin,
and their emergency stop equipment (limited to electric brake type) |
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Second class pressure vessels |
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Small size boilers |
| · |
Small size pressure vessels |
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| b. |
Type verification (Law, Articles 44-2, 44-3, 44-4; Order, Article 14-2; Ordinance, Article 10)
Type verification is performed to examine apparatuses of the same type, and the validity terms are stipulated.
| · |
Safety devices for press machines or shears: 3 years |
| · |
Rolling mills for kneading rubber, rubber compounds, or synthetic resin,
and their emergency stop equipment (other than electric brake types): 3
years |
| · |
Explosion-protected structure apparatus: 3 years |
| · |
Overload protection devices for cranes or mobile cranes: 3 years |
| · |
Dust respirators: 5 years |
| · |
Gas masks: 5 years |
| · |
Woodworking circular saws, kickback or contact preventive devices for circular
saw machines (limited to mobile types): 3 years |
| · |
Press machines driven by power (limited to those having a sliding mechanism):
3 years |
| · |
Electric shock preventive devices for AC arc welding machines: 3 years |
| · |
Personal protective equipment for electrical insulation (used for electric
lines in excess of DC 750 V or AC 300 V): 3 years |
| · |
Insulating equipment (used for electric lines in excess of DC 750 V or
AC 300 V): 3 years |
| · |
Hard hats: 3 years |
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For machines or other equipment that have passed verification, a verification
certificate will be issued, but in any of the following cases, the verification
certificate will be invalidated: |
| · |
In the case where the structure of the machine or other equipment, or the
manufacturing facilities or inspection facilities of the type passing the
verification, do not conform to the standards established by the Minister
of Health, Labour and Welfare |
| · |
In the case where a manufacturer of a foreign country that underwent a
type verification attaches an ambiguous indication to the passing machine
or other equipment, and exports it to Japan |
| · |
In the case where the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is going to
conduct an inspection or ask personnel a question about the structure of
the machine or other equipment, the manufacturing facilities, inspection
facilities, etc. that have passed the verification, and the personnel,
for example, does not answer or answers falsely, or rejects the inspection |
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2. Inspectors of examinations (Law, Articles 44 and 44-2)
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The inspector of individual examinations is the Minister of Health, Labour
and Welfare, or a person (authorized individual examination agency) designated
by the Director General of the Prefectural Labour Bureau concerned or by
the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, and the inspector of type verification
is the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare or a person (authorized agency
for type verification test) designated by the Minister of Health, Labour
and Welfare. |
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3. Place of examination (Law, Articles 44 and 44-2)
| · |
In the case of individual examinations, the place is chosen by the applicant |
| · |
In the case of type verification |
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| : |
The place is chosen by the applicant, for safety devices of press machines,
emergency stop equipment for rubber, etc., contact preventive devices for
circular saw machines, or press machines
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| : |
The place is where the examination inspector exists, for cases other than
the above |
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4. Examination standards (Law, Articles 44 and 44-2; Ordinance, Article
8)
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| · |
Individual examinations |
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To conform to the Construction Code established by the Minister of Health,
Labour and Welfare |
| · |
Type verification |
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| : |
To conform to the Construction Code established by the Minister of Health,
Labour and Welfare |
| : |
The manufacturing facilities and inspection facilities should satisfy specific requirements (details are omitted)
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| : |
The manufacturing manager should satisfy specific requirements (details are omitted)
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| : |
With the completion of inspection organization, inspection standards and inspection methods are stipulated as regulations.
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(The next article in this series covers the requirements of authorized
inspection agencies, etc. for specified machines and other equipment.)
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