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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987
MR BARNES SAID IMPROVEMENTS IN LIFT AND ESCALATOR SAFETY LARGELY RELIED ON ANALYSIS OF ACCIDENTS ON EXISTING LIFTS AND ESCALATORS.
IT WAS PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO THE ORDINANCE REQUIRING ANY OCCURRENCE WHICH HAD CAUSED DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY, OR WHERE THERE HAD BEEN A MAJOR MECHANICAL OR SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE, TO BE REPORTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES.
ANOTHER MEASURE TO IMPROVE SAFETY WAS THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANY UNAUTHORISED PERSON TO ENDANGER HIMSELF OR OTHERS BY INTERFERING WITH ANY PART OF LIFT OR ESCALATOR INSTALLATIONS.
THE OPPORTUNITY WAS ALSO TAKEN TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND ARRANGEMENTS.
MR BARNES SAID LIFT AND ESCALATOR CONTRACTORS WERE NOW REGISTERED BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE ON THE ADVICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES.
AFTER REGISTRATION, THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD FREQUENT CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTORS, WHEREAS THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAD VERY LITTLE.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REGISTRATION AND CONTROL OF THESE CONTRACTORS MORE DIRECT AND EFFECTIVE, IT WAS PROPOSED TO TRANSFER THIS FUNCTION FROM THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, HE SAID.
HE SAID CONSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFTS AND ESCALATORS WERE PRESENTLY CONTAINED IN THE BUILDING (LIFTS) REGULATIONS AND BUILDING (ESCALATORS) REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
TO RATIONALISE ADMINISTRATION, IT WAS PROPOSED THAT AT A LATER STAGE PROVISIONS FROM THESE REGULATIONS OF AN ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL NATURE BE TRANSFERRED TO A NEW SET OF REGULATIONS TO BE MADE UNDER THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) ORDINANCE. IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT A NEW SECTION BE ADDED TO EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE THESE REGULATIONS.
+SEVERAL OTHER MINOR AMENDMENTS ARE PROPOSED IN THE BILL ALL OF WHICH SERVE TO IMPROVE STANDARDS, SAFETY OR TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE,+ MR BARNES SAID.
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