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SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1980
FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE CAN BE DEADLY
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A MISUNDERSTOOD SIGNAL ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE COULD LEAD TO TRAGEDY, AND EMPLOYERS AND CONTRACTORS SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO STREAMLINE THEIR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY.
THIS DRAMATIC CALL CAME FROM A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) IN THE WAKE OF A RECENT ACCIDENT IN WHICH TWO WORKERS FELL TO DEATH WHILE UNLOADING A HOIST ON AN UPPER FLOOR OF A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EQUIPMENT KNOWN IN THE TRADE AS A +SKIP HOIST+ HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MISHAP. THE HOIST IS USED TO DELIVER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TO VARIOUS FLOORS OF THE BUILDING.
MOST SKIP HOISTS ARE OPERATED THROUGH A SERIES OF WINCHES WHICH ARE LOCATED AT GROUND LEVEL. THIS MEANS THAT THE OPERATOR DOES NOT HAVE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE HOIST AND IS FORCED TO RELY ON A SIGNALLING SYSTEM.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WHILE THE BASIC EQUIPMENT WAS SAFE, CERTAIN FACTORS COULD MAKE THEM LETHAL. THE MOST COMMON WERE AN INADEQUATE SIGNALLING SYSTEM, HUMAN ERROR, AND POOR MAINTENANCE.
+IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE BELL-AND-STRING TYPE SIGNALLING SYSTEM BE USED BECAUSE IT IS SUBJECT TO INTERFERENCE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPERATOR, THE SPOKESMAN WARNED.
+ IT IS NECESSARY THAT EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLE SIGNALLING ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE USED SO THAT THE WINCH OPERATOR CAN STOP THE CARRIAGE OR PLATFORM OF THE HOIST AT THE DESIRED LEVEL.+
EFFECTIVE DEVICES FOR GIVING SOUND, COLOUR OR LIGHT SIGNALS SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ENABLE THE HOIST TO BE OPERATED SAFELY, AND ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM INTERFERENCE, HE ADDED.
OTHER PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN REGARDING MAINTENANCE, SAFETY LOAD AND TESTING, THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED.
THE HOIST SHOULD BE OF GOOD MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION, PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SECURELY ANCHORED.
BEFORE BEING USED, IT SHOULD BE TESTED AND THOROUGHLY EXAMINED BY A COMPETENT EXAMINER AND THEN CLOSELY CHECKED EVERY SIX MONTHS AND INSPECTED AT LEAST ONCE EVERY WEEK BY A COMPETENT PERSON.
THE HOISTWAY OF THE HOIST SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY A SUBSTANTIAL ENCLOSURE AND ANY OPENING OF THE ENCLOSURE SHOULD BE FITTED WITH SECURE GATES.
THE SPOKESMAN