The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security is a
organization whose focus is the protection of individuals, groups or
environment
Environment most often refers to:
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* Natural environment, all living and non-living things occurring naturally
* Biophysical environment, the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism or ...
issues which will, subsequently, affect individuals or groups
health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
or well being. As an
executive agency
An executive agency is a part of a government department that is treated as managerially and budgetarily separate, to carry out some part of the executive functions of the United Kingdom government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government or Nort ...
, the Office is managed by a Commissioner who is appointed by the
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
.
Department of Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety (DPS), a regulatory, licensing and inspection agency, charged with the oversight of numerous activities, businesses, and professions, reports directly to the secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The Department of Public Safety provides administrative and legal assistance to the following boards and commissions.
The Architectural Access Board: (AAB)
A
regulatory agency
A regulatory agency (regulatory body, regulator) or independent agency (independent regulatory agency) is a government authority that is responsible for exercising autonomous dominion over some area of human activity in a licensing and regulatin ...
within the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety. Its legislative mandate states that it shall develop and enforce regulations designed to make
public buildings
A building, or edifice, is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place, such as a house or factory (although there's also portable buildings). Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and funct ...
accessible to, functional for, and safe for use by persons with
disabilities
Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, se ...
Amusements
All amusement devices in Massachusetts must be licensed and are regulated and inspected by the Department of Public Safety Each amusement device, including
inflatable
An inflatable is an object that can be inflated with a gas, usually with air, but hydrogen, helium and nitrogen are also used. One of several advantages of an inflatable is that it can be stored in a small space when not inflated, since inflata ...
devices, must be registered with the Department annually and inspected according to the regulations.
Board of Building Regulations and Standards
The Department of Public Safety’s Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) requires an individual who supervises
building construction
Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009 and com ...
for certain building types to be licensed as a Construction Supervisor. Candidates for the Construction Supervisor License (CSL) must first demonstrate at least 3 years of experience in building construction or design in order to be considered eligible for the exam. BBRS is authorized by law to adopt
building code
A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permission ...
regulations, administer provisions of the code and operate various construction related programs.
Board of Elevator Regulations
A division of the state
public safety
Public security or public safety is the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety and security of the public from significant danger, injury, or property damage. It is often conducted by a state government to ensure ...
department, The Board of Elevator Regulations, has eight members who are appointed to serve by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Board of Elevator Regulations regulates the construction, installation, alteration and operation of all
elevator
An elevator or lift is a wire rope, cable-assisted, hydraulic cylinder-assisted, or roller-track assisted machine that vertically transports people or freight between floors, levels, or deck (building), decks of a building, watercraft, ...
s in Massachusetts. The term “elevator” includes
moving stairways,
dumbwaiters
A dumbwaiter is a small freight elevator or lift intended to carry food. Dumbwaiters found within modern structures, including both commercial, public and private buildings, are often connected between multiple floors. When installed in restaur ...
,
moving walkway
A moving walkway, also known as an autowalk, moving pavement, moving sidewalk, people-mover, travolator, or travelator, is a slow-moving conveyor mechanism that transports people across a horizontal or inclined plane over a short to medium distan ...
s,
material lifts, vertical reciprocating conveyors, and dumbwaiters with automatic transfer devices,
wheelchair lift
A wheelchair lift, also known as a platform lift, or vertical platform lift, is a fully powered device designed to raise a wheelchair and its occupant in order to overcome a step or similar vertical barrier.
Wheelchair lifts can be installed in ...
s, automatic people movers and other associated devices that are commonly included within the elevator industry. All elevator constructors, maintenance people, repairpeople, and operators must be licensed by the Board.
Engineering
The
Engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
division is responsible for the inspection of
boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which fluid (generally water) is heated. The fluid does not necessarily boil. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications, including water heating, central h ...
s,
pressure vessel
A pressure vessel is a container designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure substantially different from the ambient pressure.
Construction methods and materials may be chosen to suit the pressure application, and will depend on the size o ...
s, and other equipment or devices for conformance to safety laws, standards, rules and regulations. The inspectors of this division are also responsible for the safe operation of
amusement ride
Amusement rides, sometimes called carnival rides, are mechanical devices or structures that move people especially kids to create fun and enjoyment.
Rides are often perceived by many as being scary or more dangerous than they actually are. This ...
s,
horse and carriage
]
A horse and buggy (in American English) or horse and carriage (in British English and American English) refers to a light, simple, two-person carriage of the late 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, drawn usually by one or sometimes by two ho ...
vehicles, and
bungee jumping
Bungee jumping (), also spelled bungy jumping, is an activity that involves a person jumping from a great height while connected to a large elastic cord. The launching pad is usually erected on a tall structure such as a building or crane, a ...
. In addition to ensuring compliance with safety laws, rules and regulations, it is the responsibility of the inspectors to examine people for the following licenses: Power plant engineers and firemen, oil burner technicians, refrigeration technicians, heavy equipment and hoisting operators, sprinkler fitters, pipe fitters,
nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a electric generator, generato ...
operators.
Trenches
In addition to the permit and local permitting authority requirements mandated by statute, the
trench
A trench is a type of excavation or in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a wider gully, or ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit).
In geology, trenches result from eros ...
safety regulations require that all excavators, whether public or private, take specific precautions to protect the general public and prevent unauthorized access to unattended trenches. Accordingly, unattended trenches must be covered, barricaded or backfilled.
Licensing
The Department of Public Safety issues licenses in the following areas: Amusement and Entertainment, Architectural Access Board, Change of Address Form, Concrete Field Testing Technician, Construction Supervisor License, Elevators, Engineers, Hoisting, Inspector of Pressure, Vessel License, Native Lumber Producers, Nuclear Plants, Oil Burners, Pipe Fitters, Public Warehouse, Refrigeration, S-License (Security), Sprinklers, Tramways, Inspection Applications, and Ticket Resellers.
Dept. of Public Safety: License type
/ref>
Notes
Further reading
*
External links
* . (Various documents).
{{Massachusetts government
Government of Massachusetts