REGISTRATION OF DANGEROUS FACILITIES GATHERS MOMENTUM

Noyan Tapan
Aug 28 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Only 27 elevators were registered
in May 2006 at the National Technical Safety Center (NTSC) of the
RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development. In July their number
made 400, while in August – over 4 thousand. Major General Ashot
Petrosian, the center’s director, stated this at the August 28 press
conference. According to him, under the RA Law on State Regulation
of Technical Safety that took effect on January 1, 2006, the persons
operating dangerous production facilities are obliged to get registered
at the NTSC until September 1, 2006. He said that those who operate
dangerous facilities and fail to get registered until September 1
will be liable to a fine in the amount of 1,000 minimal salaries
(1 mln drams or about 2,500 USD). If an organization continues to
operate without being registered, its operation will be suspended by
order of the RA Minister of Trade and Economic Development, and it
will be fined in the amount of 2,000 minimal salaries.

A. Petrosian said that registration at NTSC is free of charge. In
case of failure to inform about accidents at such facilities, a
fine in the amount of 2,000 minimal salaries is envisaged. Experts
of dangerous facilities also bear responsibility envisaged by law:
if an accident occurs at a facility which has a positive conclusion
after undergoing an examination and it is revealed that this facility
did not meet the normative requirements, the expert is fined in the
amount of 500 minimal salaries. NTSC director informed those present
that the center has branches in Kapan (Syunik marz) and Vanadzor (it
services Lori and Shirak marzes). In his words, 5,147 elevators are
registered at the NTSC, which is 80% of all operating elevators in
Armenia. The process of registration is active in Yerevan’s Kentron
community, while the city’s Ajapniak community, the cities of Vanadzor
and Abovian are noted for their passiveness.

So far, 5 elevators not meeting the respective normative requirements
were revealed by the center’s experts. He noted that the process of
registering edicational institutions, boiler-houses and gasoline
filling stations is proceeding slowly. For example, only 50% of
filling stations has been registered so far. Out of 389 operating
mines, 141 are registered at the NTSC, registration of another 18
is in progress. Filling stations, as A. Petrsosian put it, are the
most punctual. In particular, Flash company has registered its filling
stations at the center, while Mika is slow to do so, though the Hrazdan
cement plant (belonging to Mika) has been registered. Some big mining
companies, including those operating copper and molybdenum mines,
have applied for registration.