By Bernama
Moscow : The Moscow authorities intend to tighten the welding safety rules during repairs at apartment houses, Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov is expected to sign a corresponding document on Monday.
Visiting the gas blast site at Academician Korolyov Street last weekend, Luzhkov pledged that he “will sign this ordinance on Monday.”
“Summer is coming, and many Muscovites prefer to make repairs in their flats during this season of the year,” the mayor said.
According to Luzhkov, the Moscow authorities will tighten control over not only the gas-welding works, but also the re-layout in flats and garages and some operations using jackhammers.
“Only those organisations, which have corresponding certificates, will be authorised to make repairs using these types of special equipment,” the mayor said.
The city authorities will instruct corresponding utilities, prefectures, city district authorities and householders societies to control the fulfilment of the ordinance.
Two students, who had a hobby of making old weapons, welding and soldering them on their own in their flat, but using a propane-butane tank, are to blame for last Friday gas explosion, the mayor said. The initial reports said neglectful repairmen, who were conducting the welding works in the flat, are responsible for the blast.
The explosion killed two young men and a woman, who lived in the lower flat. The ceiling collapsed and killed her. Another three people sought medical advice.