LANSING – A plan introduced by State Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) that requires the Department of Labor and Economic Growth to certify, on a voluntary basis, people who register as boiler operators or stationary engineers was signed into law today by Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm.
"As I work to create good-paying jobs for our workers now, it is also important to keep our workers safe and educated," Jones said. "My plan will promote not only safe day-to-day operation and maintenance, but also increased education. There have been too many cases where there has been loss of life and property because of inadequately trained boiler operators and it is difficult to gauge what other catastrophes may occur in the future due to poorly trained personnel."
Jones' plan ensures that qualified only workers install and repair boilers. The plan requires the Board of Boiler Rules to:
- Certify those who voluntarily register as a boiler operator or stationary engineer and establish minimum levels of education and experience for registration.
- Limit the use of specified titles to only those registered with the Board.
- Charge an unregistered person or business that uses a certified title with a misdemeanor punishable of 60 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.
- Create an approved apprenticeship program and qualified technical education program.
In the 10-year period from 1992 to 2001 there were 23,338 reported boiler accidents, according to the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. Of those, 83 percent reportedly were a direct result of human oversight or lack of knowledge. Human oversight or lack of knowledge we also responsible for 60 percent of the recorded deaths due to boiler accidents over that period.
Jones was joined at the bill signing by State Senator Patricia Birkholz, who introduced the bill in the Senate, as well as former State Representatives from the 60th District, all of whom introduced this bill while in office, including Mary Brown, who served from 1976 to 1994; Ed LaForge, who served from 1994 to 2000; and Alexander Lipsey, who served from 2000 to 2006.
"I am grateful for the strong support this bill has earned from both sides of the aisle," Jones said. "It is an honor for me to be here today in the presence of my esteemed colleagues and have this plan become law after all these years. I will continue to fight for our residents and work to move Michigan forward."