10
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1976
LOCALLY CONSTRUCTED GOODS LIFTS
NEW REGULATIONS FOR SAFE OPERATION APPROVED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFE OPERATION OF LOCALLY CONSTRUCTED GOODS LIFTS IN FACTORIES.
MOVING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GOODS LIFTS) REGULATIONS, 1976, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR. SAID LOCALLY BUILT LIFTS HAD CAUSED A NUMBER OF SERIOUS AND MOSTLY FATAL ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.
PAST EXPERIENCE, HE SAID, SHOWED THAT MOST OWNERS OF SUCH LIFTS WERE RELUCTANT TO MODIFY THEM TO BRING THEM WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF +SERVICE LIFT, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF SIZE AND HEIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED IN 1964 TO ENABLE THEM TO DO SO.
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT CONSEQUENTLY AGREED THAT GOODS LIFTS SHOULD MORE APPROPRIATELY BE CONTROLLED THROUGH REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE, SAID MR. HENDERSON.
TO FACILITATE THIS STEP, THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED LAST MONTH TO EMPOWER THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO EXEMPT CERTAIN GOODS LIFTS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE NEW REGULATIONS WILL NOT APPLY TO THOSE GOODS LIFTS WHICH HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND INSTALLED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE BUILDING (LIFTS) REGULATIONS.
ALSO NOT SUBJECT TO CONTROL UNDER THESE NEW REGULATIONS ARE
* LIFTS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN GENERALLY EXEMPTED FROM THE
APPLICATION OF THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) ORDINANCE-
AND
* THOSE, THOUGH INTENDED MAINLY FOR CARRYING GOODS, THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE LIFTS FOR CARRYING PASSENGERS BECAUSE THEY ARE OPERATED BY A PERSON INSIDE.
OWNERS OF GOODS LIFTS WHICH COME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THESE REGULATIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPOINT COMPETENT EXAMINERS TO CARRY OUT REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF THE LIFTS.
OTHER IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:
* THE PROPER ENCLOSURE OF LIFT WELLS=
* THE INSTALLATION OF INTERLOCKING DEVICES TO PREVENT
A LIFT FROM MOVING WHEN ITS DOOR IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, AND A DOOR FROM OPENING WHEN THE LIFT IS NOT AT REST AT THE LANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR- AND
THE