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Gondola regulation takes effect
Á new regulation governing the safe use of suspended working platforms, commonly known as gondolas, will take effect from tomorrow (Saturday).
The effective date of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Suspended Working Platforms) Regulation was gazetted today (Friday).
A Labour Department spokesman said under the new regulation, the owner of a suspended working platform must ensure its good design and construction and proper operation.
Additional safety ropes fitted with automatic fall-arresting device or two independent suspension wires must be provided for each gondola.
Furthermore, a suspended working platform must be periodically inspected by a competent person and examined by a registered professional engineer.
The new law prohibits the operation of a gondola in bad weather and requires every worker on it to wear a safety belt and keep it attached to an independent lifeline.
Regarding Section 17 of the Regulation which requires persons working on a gondola to obtain gondola operation certificates, the spokesman said this Section would be effective on January 1 next year so as to give more time to the industry concerned to run such training courses.
"In the past two years, the Labour Department has organised various talks and seminars on the safe operation of gondolas.
"The department's Industrial Safety Training Centre (ISTC) is also running free courses on the statutory requirements under the new law," the spokesman said.
Guide books, leaflets and posters on the new regulation are now available at the offices of the Factory Inspectorate Division (FID) and ISTC for collection.
Enquiries on the new regulation can be made to the FID offices or the Industrial Safety Training Centre on tel 2852 3564.
End/Friday, June 30, 1995
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