§535. Special inspectors

A. In addition to the personnel authorized by R.S. 23:534(1), the assistant secretary may, upon the request of any company authorized to insure against loss from explosion of boilers in this state, appoint the boiler inspectors of the said company as special inspectors, who shall serve at his pleasure, provided that each such inspector holds a certificate of competency as an inspector of boilers from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors. These special inspectors shall receive no salary from nor shall any of their expenses be paid by the state. The continuance of a special inspector's appointment shall be conditioned upon his continuing in the employ of a boiler inspection and insurance company duly authorized as aforesaid, and upon his maintenance of the standards imposed by this Part. These special inspectors shall inspect all boilers insured by their respective companies, and the owners or users of such insured boilers shall be exempt from the payment of inspection fees required in R.S. 23:541. Each company employing such special inspectors shall, within thirty days following each annual internal inspection made by them, file a report of such inspection with the assistant secretary upon appropriate forms as promulgated by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

B. In addition to the personnel authorized by R.S. 23:534(1), the assistant secretary may, upon the request of director of safety and permits for the city of New Orleans, appoint boiler inspectors of the city of New Orleans as special inspectors, who shall serve at his pleasure, provided that each such inspector holds a certificate of competency as an inspector of boilers from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, or the equivalent if the national board refuses to certify local inspectors due to population limits. These special inspectors shall receive no salary from nor shall any of their expenses be paid by the state. The continuance of a special inspector's appointment shall be conditioned upon his continuing in the employ as a boiler inspector of the city of New Orleans duly authorized as aforesaid, and upon his maintenance of the standards imposed by this Part. These special inspectors shall inspect all boilers in the city of New Orleans, and the owners or users of such boilers shall be exempt from the payment of inspection fees required in R.S. 23:541. The director of safety and permits for the city of New Orleans shall, within thirty days following each annual internal inspection made by such special inspectors, file a report of such inspection with the assistant secretary upon appropriate forms as promulgated by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

C. The assistant secretary shall have the authority to:

(1) Revoke inspector recognition for cause and only after an administrative hearing.

(2) Monitor inspection activities by the special inspectors for the city of New Orleans.

(3) Follow up on overdue repair reports with the New Orleans inspection agency.

(4) Promulgate rules and regulations through the Administrative Procedure Act as may be deemed necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this Section.

Amended by Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1395, §1.