WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987
28
IMPROVEMENTS TO LIFTS AND ESCALATORS SAFETY PROPOSED
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THE USE AND SOPHISTICATION OF LIFTS AND ESCALATORS HAS INCREASED GREATLY SINCE LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED IN 1960 AND THERE IS A NEED TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE TO IMPROVE AND UPDATE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS.
THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987.
HE SAID THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE NEEDED WIDENING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PASSENGER CONVEYORS AND SERVICE LIFTS IN NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
PASSENGER CONVEYORS DIFFERED FROM ESCALATORS. THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED IN EMPIRE CENTRE AND HARBOUR CITY AND THE IR USE WAS LIKELY TO INCREASE, IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT THE DEFINITION OF ESCALATOR BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE PASSENGER CONVEYORS.
ALL SERVICE LIFTS IN FACTORIES WERE SUBJECT TO THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING (GOODS LIFTS) REGULATIONS WHICH DID NOT APPLY TO SERVICE LIFTS IN NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, SUCH AS RESTAURANTS. IT WAS PROPOSED THAT A NEW PART BE ADDED TO THE ORDINANCE TO EXTEND SAFETY PROVISIONS TO NON-INDUSTRIAL SERVICE LIFTS.
MR BARNES SAID QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF STAFF INVOLVED IN THE INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND INSPECTION OF LIFTS AND ESCALATORS WERE CRUCIAL TO SAFETY.
THE EXISTING ORDINANCE DID NOT STIPULATE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR INCLUSION IN THE REGISTER OF LIFT AND ESCALATOR ENGINEERS WHICH WERE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES.
IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE AMENDED TO STIPULATE THAT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD BE A HIGHER DIPLOMA OR HIGHER CERTIFICATE IN MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL OR ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING OR EQUIVALENT; AND THAT EXPERIENCE SHOULD COMPRISE AT LEAST TWO YEARS' RELEVANT APPRENTICESHIP PLUS AT LEAST THREE YEARS' SUBSEQUENT WORK ON LIFTS OR ESCALATORS.
MR BARNES ALSO SAID, THERE WERE CURRENTLY NO QUALIFICATION OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFT AND ESCALATOR WORKERS WHICH HAD BEEN A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR IN A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS.
TO RECTIFY THIS, IT WAS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO THE ORDINANCE WHICH SPECIFIED QUALIFICATIONS OR EXPERIENCE FOR LIFT AND ESCALATOR WORKERS AND THAT ONLY REGISTERED LIFT OR ESCALATOR ENGINEERS, COMPETENT EXPERIENCED LIFT OR ESCALATOR WORKERS, OR WORKERS' DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY EITHER OF THE FORMER TWO CATEGORIES BE PERMITTED TO CARRY OUT LIFT OR ESCALATOR WORKS.
/MR BARNES ...............
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