THURSDAY, JULY 1, 1993
AMENDMENTS TO LIFTING APPLIANCES REGULATION ENDORSED
*
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR) REGULATION WHICH SEEK TO FURTHER PROTECT WORKERS'
SAFETY, THE ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TSANG KIN-WOO, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
"IT IS NECESSARY TO INCREASE REGULATORY CONTROL ΤΟ FURTHER PROTECT WORKERS, PARTICULARLY WHEN MORE LIFTING APPLIANCES WILL BE USED ON THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION WORK TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, NOTABLY ON THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECTS, MR TSANG SAID.
"THE
REGULATION
INDUSTRIAL
(AMENDMENT)
**
RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) WILL BE AMENDED AND SUBSUMED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND UNDERTAKINGS (LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR)
REGULATION 1993," MR TSANG SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE DEFINITION OF 'COMPETENT EXAMINER' IN THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATION WOULD ALSO BE AMENDED ACCORDINGLY.
HE SAID MORE STRINGENT REGULATORY MEASURES OVER THE SAFE USE OF LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR WOULD BE INTRODUCED UNDER THE AMENDMENT REGULATION TO BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 21.
THE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS ARE:
* LIFTING APPLIANCES MUST BE EXAMINED EVERY YEAR BY COMPETENT
EXAMINERS;
AN AUTOMATIC SAFE LOAD INDICATOR MUST BE INSTALLED ON A CRANE;
PERSONS OPERATING CRANES MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER AND MUST POSSESS A VALID CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY (CITA) OR BY ANY OTHER PERSONS SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR; AND
A COMPETENT EXAMINER FOR LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR MUST BE A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER REGISTERED UNDER THE ENGINEERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE IN A RELEVANT SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.
SINCE CONTRACTORS MAY NEED TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS ON EMPLOYMENT OF QUALIFIED CRANE OPERATORS INSTALLATION OF SAFE OVERLOAD INDICATORS, MR TSANG SAID THE AMENDMENTS WOULD COME INTO EFFECT ON THREE DIFFERENT DATES.
DISCIPLINE
PROPOSED AND THE RELEVANT
"THE REQUIREMENT OF A CRANE OPERATOR TO POSSESS A VALID CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE CITA WILL COME INTO EFFECT ONE YEAR AFTER APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME TO TRAIN UP SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF QUALIFIED OPERATORS,' MR TSANG SAID.
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