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In response to media enquiries on the safe operation of tail lifts, a spokesman for the Labour Department (LD) today (June 23) said that LD attaches great importance to the work safety of employees engaging in tail lift operations and is highly concerned about the occupational fatal accident emerged in Tsuen Wan yesterday (June 22). LD is deeply saddened by the death of a worker in the accident. To clamp down on the unsafe operation of tail lifts, LD will shortly launch corresponding special enforcement operations and step up inspection and enforcement efforts on tail lifts.
After the accident, the LD commenced an immediate investigation and issued suspension notice to the employer and relevant duty holder to suspend the operation of tail lift of the lorry concerned until LD is satisfied with the proprietor/employer that they have taken necessary safety precautions to obviate relevant risks.?
LD will conduct a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the accident and ascertain the liability of the duty holder. LD will take actions pursuant to the law if there was any violation of the work safety legislation.
The spokesman reiterated that proprietors/employers have statutory duties to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (OSHO) to safeguard the work safety of workers/employees and other related persons.?They should also adopt the required precautionary measures as stipulated under the relevant legislation and guidance as soon as possible so as to safeguard workers and other relevant people engaging in the operation of tail lifts.?
Under OSHO, employers must provide and maintain plants (including tail lifts) and systems of work that are, so far as reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health. They should also provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of employees.?Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months.?
Having consulted the industry stakeholders, LD published the first version of the Guidance Notes on Prevention of Trapping Hazards of Tail Lifts (GN) in July 2013, setting out safety features and precautionary measures required to be taken by duty holders to prevent trapping hazards inherent to the operation of tail lifts, including the installation of safety devices such as two-hands control device.?GN was revised in October 2015 by specifying the safety standards of the required safety devices and requiring their conformity to international safety standards.?Comments of relevant government departments and industry stakeholders had been duly incorporated to the revised GN.
LD will shortly launch special enforcement operations targeting the operation of tail lifts and step up inspection and enforcement efforts to clamp down on unsafe operations of tail lifts with a view to checking the compliance of employers with relevant statutory requirements stipulated in safety legislation.?To disseminate safety messages to employers and strengthen workers' safety awareness, LD will continue to step up promotion of and training on the safe operation of tail lifts, including maintaining close communication with industry stakeholders, organising safety seminars, and distributing posters and stickers.
LD has already issued Work Safety Alerts to remind the industry of the importance in adopting safety precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.
Ends/Thursday, June 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 23:57
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