Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO)

Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO)

Subject : Governance

Context: All 50 licensing modules under the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) have been integrated into the National Single Window System (NSWS).

Details:

• These procuring licenses regulate the safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gas and petroleum.
• PESO has also developed the System for Explosives Tracking & Tracing (SETT) to prevent incidents of theft, diversion, pilferage of explosives from licensed agencies and consumption of explosives for illegal mining and quarrying activities.

Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO)

• It was formerly known as Department of Explosives
• It is an organization under the Department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), Ministry of commerce & industry.
• It was established in 1898 as a nodal agency for regulating safety of hazardous substances such as explosives, compressed gases and petroleum.
• Objective –of ensuring safety and security of public and property from fire and explosion.
• Organisation as a statutory authority is entrusted with the administration of Explosives Act, 1884, Petroleum Act, 1934; Inflammable Substances Act, 1952 and the following Rules framed under these Acts.
• PESO has its Headquarters at Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Functions:

• Scrutiny and approval of site, layout and construction plans for –Explosives manufacturing factories, LPG bottling units etc
• Scrutiny and approval of design and construction of Explosives vans, Portable Explosives Magazines etc
• Licensing of the premises/units/vehicles mentioned as above.
• Periodic examination and testing of cylinders for grant of recognition to the cylinder testing station.
• Recognition of competent persons and inspectors under various Rules.
• Issue of shot firers permit & foreman’s certificate.
• Regular inspection of the units mentioned above.
• Destruction of deteriorated and unclaimed/unserviceable/seized explosives.
• Examination of petroleum tanks in sea going vessels for issuing gas free certificates for allowing hot work, entry of man in such tanks and entry of such vessels in docks.
• Technical investigation of accidents related to the substances coming under the purview of the Acts and Rules administered by the Organisation for ascertaining causes of accident and violations.
• Scrutiny and appraisal of proposals to import, export and transport explosives for grant of licence thereof.
• Authorisation of new explosives after adequate tests and trials.
• Review & Amendment of Rules wherever necessary in Public interest.
• Examination/testing of explosives/hazardous substances for classification of hazard.
• Advising the Central and State Governments, the Industry and various Organizations on matters relating to the handling of explosives, flammable and other dangerous substances.
• The organization also monitors the entire crucial supply chain of liquid oxygen on a real-time basis from producers till the end user in an emergency such as the covid-19 pandemic.