************************************************************
The Government has today (January 21) published in the Gazette a commencement notice issued under section 1 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Loadshifting Machinery) Regulation (the Regulation).
A spokesman for the Labour Department said that the commencement notice brings into effect sections 3, 6 and 8 of the Regulation (in so far as they relate to paragraphs (f) to (j) in Part II of the Schedule) with effect from March 31, 2011. This will give effect to requirements that compactors, dumpers, graders, locomotives and scrapers on construction sites shall be operated only by persons who have received recognised training and are in possession of valid certificates.
"Loadshifting machines refer to 11 types of machines, namely, forklift trucks used in industrial undertakings as well as bulldozers, loaders, excavators, trucks, lorries, compactors, dumpers, graders, locomotives and scrapers used on construction sites. At present, the first six types of loadshifting machines shall be operated only by persons holding valid certificates. With effect from March 31, 2011, the requirement will be extended to cover the five remaining loadshifting machines," the spokesman said.
The certificate for operating a loadshifting machine is issued by providers of recognised training courses. The Commissioner for Labour has recognised a number of training courses for loadshifting machines. A person shall complete such training course in order to obtain the relevant certificate.
Responsible persons of loadshifting machines may provide "in-house" training courses for their own operators, recognised by the Labour Department. As a further measure to assist the industry, the Construction Industry Council Training Academy and the Occupational Safety and Health Council have prepared off-the-shelf training packages and will assist in sourcing qualified trainers to facilitate contractors in running "in-house" training courses for operators of dumper, grader, locomotive and scraper in case of need in future.
Employers or workers, who have any workplace safety problems or enquiry about the commencement notice in question, are welcome to contact the Labour Department through the safety and health advisory telephone enquiry service at 2559 2297.
Ends/Friday, January 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 10:18
NNNN
