The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) is celebrating a major milestone – the 90th anniversary of its Boiler Safety Bureau. Since its inception in 1935, the bureau has been instrumental in assuring that boilers and pressure vessels in the state operate safely, as reported by NCDOL. The department now conducts around 52,000 inspections annually, an effort that has helped to drastically reduce boiler-related fatalities in North Carolina.
Labor Commissioner Luke Farley highlighted the progress made over the decades, saying, “When this program was first established, North Carolina averaged one boiler-related fatality every six weeks.” He mentioned that currently, that number has dropped to one every four years. Farley also emphasized the continuous dedication of the bureau's inspectors and safety professionals – a testament to their unwavering commitment to protect and to serve the community, as per the North Carolina Department of Labor.
What was once a focused operation on boiler inspections has now expanded to cover a wider array of equipment, including heating boilers, hot water storage tanks, and both fired and unfired pressure vessels. This evolution underlines the bureau's ability to adapt and grow alongside the industries it oversees.
“As we mark this milestone, we’re not just looking back — we’re looking ahead,” said Commissioner Farley in remarks obtained by NCDOL. He stressed their pursuit to maintain high standards of safety and service, despite the challenges posed by emerging technologies and industries. The NCDOL seems committed to forging a future that as safely as possible, can navigate the complexities of modern boiler safety and regulation in a state that's continuously reshaping itself.
