XN000022-1988-12-21 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1988

ESCALATOR CONTRACTOR FINED FOR NEGLIGENCE

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A REGISTERED ESCALATOR CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN FINED A TOTAL OF $50,000 BY A DISCIPLINARY BOARD IN CONNECTION WITH AN ESCALATOR INCIDENT AT THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION IN HUNG HOM IN JANUARY.

OF

THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD, WHICH WAS APPOINTED BY THE DIRECTOR ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES UNDER THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) ORDINANCE, COMPLETED ITS HEARINGS YESTERDAY (DECEMBER 20).

IT WAS CHAIRED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WORKS AND SERVICES, OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CONSISTED OF FIVE PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS FROM THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD PANEL APPOINTED UNDER THE SAME ORDINANCE.

THE REGISTERED ESCALATOR CONTRACTOR SUMMONED BEFORE THE BOARD WAS THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY OF HONG KONG LTD.

THE CONTRACTOR WAS CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENCE ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 13, 1988 IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF ESCALATOR NO. E4 AT THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION, FOR FAILING:

(A) TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKING MECHANISM OF THE ESCALATOR WAS

IN SOUND AND PROPER WORKING ORDER; AND

(B) TO ENSURE THAT THE BRAKE LININGS AND SHOES OPENING OF THE ESCALATOR WERE CHECKED AND ADJUSTED AT TWO-MONTHLY INTERVALS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD FOUND THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY OF HONG KONG LTD GUILTY OF THE ABOVE TWO CHARGES AND IMPOSED A FINE OF $40,000 FOR (A) AND $10,000 FOR (B).

THE BOARD ALSO ORDERED THAT THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD MEET A TOTAL COST OF $18,520 FOR THE PROCEEDINGS.

IN CONCLUSION, THE BOARD EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT RELIANCE ON WORKERS TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE WORK WITHOUT SUITABLE SUPERVISION BY MANAGEMENT/CONTRACTOR COULD RESULT IN A POOR QUALITY OF MAINTENANCE WHICH MIGHT IN TURN RENDER THE EQUIPMENT UNSAFE.

IN CONNECTION WITH

IT RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS ΤΟ STRENGTHEN ITS SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION MAINTENANCE WORK CARRIED OUT ON ESCALATORS.

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