THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has raised a red flag over the increase in fatal explosions involving illegally installed boilers.
STAFF reporter
In a statement, NSSA urged those firms with boilers on their premises to register with the authority to enable inspection of their facilities.
According to NSSA, three fatal boiler accidents were recorded in March and all of the boilers were unregistered.
Part of the statement reads: “Boilers are hazardous pressure vessels which must meet special safety specifications at construction, installation and operation and it is because of their hazardous nature that the construction and use of unapproved and unregistered boilers is prohibited by law (Section 3 of the Factories and Works (Boiler) Regulations Number 279 of 1976.”
According to NSSA, the three accidents recorded during the last week of March this year occurred in Bulawayo, Banket and Hwedza. “On March 25 an unregistered steam boiler operated by Driveshaft Centre of Bulawayo exploded and flew through the roof and landed on top of another shop some 160 metres away, killing the boiler attendant in the process.
“On March 28, an unregistered makeshift boiler operated by Mvou Farm of Banket exploded and killed the boiler attendant. On March 31, an unregistered makeshift steam boiler operated by Mutokwe Farm in Hwedza exploded, killing three people including the farm owner.”
