Reply:
(a)
(b)
Mr President,
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of the number of accidents that have occurred since January 1993 in which the cranes of heavy duty crane trucks collapsed while carrying out lifting work, and the number of persons who have been injured or killed in these accidents; and
whether the existing regulatory measures over the operation of such vehicles will be improved so as to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents?
Regarding part (a) of the question, since January 1993, there were 13 accidents in which the cranes of heavy duty crane trucks collapsed while carrying out lifting work. Three workers were injured in three accidents.
Regarding part (b) of the question, the requirements for the safe operation of cranes are clearly set out in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations. Under the Regulations, crane owners must ensure that
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
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the cranes are safe to operate, including that the cranes are structurally sound and stable, and are installed with an automatic safe load indicator, and that the loading is within a safe working load capacity;
the cranes are not used unless they have been thoroughly examined and tested by registered professional engineers (RPEs) in the preceding 12 months and certified to be in safe working conditions. Cranes which have been substantially repaired or re-erected, or which have failed, overturned or collapsed, cannot be used unless they have passed another certification process by RPEs; and
the cranes are operated only by competent persons holding a valid certificate issued by an organisation authorised by the Commissioner for Labour.