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Sections 3, 6 and 8 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Loadshifting Machinery) Regulation (in so far as they relate to paragraphs (f) to (j) in Part II of the Schedule) shall come into operation on March 31, 2011.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said that with effect from the said date, those responsible for compactors, dumpers, graders, locomotives and scrapers on construction sites shall ensure that such machines are only operated by persons who have received recognised training and are in possession of valid certificates.
"The Commissioner for Labour has recognised a number of training courses for operators of the aforementioned machines. In case operators of these machines have not yet received training, the responsible persons concerned have to arrange recognised training for them," the spokesman said.
To provide guidance on the Regulation, the Labour Department has published "A Guide to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Loadshifting Machinery) Regulation". The Guide can be obtained free of charge from offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch of the Labour Department or downloaded from the Department's website (www.labour.gov.hk).
Employers or workers who have any workplace safety problems or enquiries about the Regulation in question, are welcome to contact the Labour Department through the safety and health advisory telephone enquiry service at 2559 2297. They may approach the Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre of the Department at 2940 7057 for enquiries on issues related to training of operators.
Ends/Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:33
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