### Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations 《建築地盤(安全)規例》

31. Safety of hoistways, platforms and cages
(1) The contractor responsible for a hoist and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall ensure that it is not used unless— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) the hoistway of the hoist is, at all points at which access to the hoistway is provided or at which persons are in danger of being struck by a moving part of the hoist, efficiently protected by a substantial enclosure;
(b) the enclosure is, where access to and egress from the hoist is required, fitted with secure gates;
(c) the enclosure and gates where practicable extend to a height of at least 2 metres unless a lower height (being not less than 900 millimetres) is sufficient to prevent a person from falling down the hoistway and there is no risk of any person coming into contact with any moving part of the hoist; and (L.N. 238 of 1983)
(d) the gates are kept closed, except where the platform or cage is at rest at a landing place and it is for the time being necessary for the gate to be opened for the purpose of loading or unloading goods, plant, or material. (L.N. 552 of 1995)
(2) Every person using a hoist shall ensure that the gate is closed immediately after use unless it is for the time being necessary to keep the gate open in accordance with paragraph (1)(d).
(3) The contractor responsible for a hoist and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist, shall— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) unless it is impracticable to do so, provide and maintain efficient devices which will support its platform or cage and its safe working load in the event of the failure of the hoist rope or ropes or any of the hoisting gear; and
(b) provide and maintain one or more efficient automatic devices which will ensure that the platform or cage of the hoist does not pass the highest point to which it is designed to travel.

### Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations 《建築地盤(安全)規例》

32. Operation of hoists
(1) The contractor responsible for a hoist and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall ensure that— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) it is not used unless it is, as far as practicable, constructed in such a way that it can be operated only from one position at any one time; and
(b) (Repealed L.N. 552 of 1995)(2) Where a workman operating a hoist does not have a clear and unrestricted view of the hoist’s carriage, platform or cage throughout its travel (except at points where such a view is not necessary for safe working), the contractor responsible for the hoist and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall make effective arrangements for signals for operating the hoist to be given to the workman from each landing place at which the hoist is used and to enable him to stop the carriage, platform or cage at the appropriate level. (L.N. 280 of 1978; L.N. 258 of 2003)

33. Winches
The contractor responsible for a hoist, which is operated by means of a winch, and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall ensure that the hoist is not used— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) unless the winch is so constructed that the brake is applied when the control lever, handle or switch is not held in the operating position; or
(b) if the winch is fitted with a pawl and ratchet gear on which the pawl has to be disengaged, before the platform or cage can be lowered.

### Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations 《建築地盤(安全)規例》

34. Safe working load and marking of hoists
(1) The contractor responsible for a hoist and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) cause the safe working load applicable to the hoist to be clearly and legibly marked on its platform or cage; and
(b) ensure that it is not used to carry any load greater than that safe working load, except that for the purpose of carrying out a test under regulation 35 the safe working load may be exceeded by such amount as a competent examiner carrying out the test may authorize.
(2) In addition to paragraph (1), every such contractor shall ensure that—
(a) (Repealed L.N. 552 of 1995)(b) the hoist has marked or affixed to its platform or cage a clear and legible notice stating that the carriage of persons is prohibited. (L.N. 552 of 1995)

### Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations 《建築地盤(安全)規例》

35. Test and examination of hoists
(1) The contractor responsible for any hoist which is manufactured or substantially altered or substantially repaired after the commencement* of these regulations and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall ensure that it is not used unless, since the date of its manufacture or of the alteration or repair, as the case may be— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) it has been tested and thoroughly examined by a competent examiner; and
(b) there has been obtained from him in respect of the test and examination a certificate in the approved form, which includes a statement to the effect that the hoist is in a safe working condition.
(2) (Repealed L.N. 552 of 1995)(3) The contractor responsible for a hoist and any contractor who has direct control over any construction work which involves the use of the hoist shall ensure that it is not used, whether for carrying goods, or otherwise, unless, during the preceding 6 months— (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(a) it has been thoroughly examined by a competent examiner; and
(b)  there has been obtained from him a report in the approved form which includes a statement to the effect that the hoist is in a safe working condition:

Provided that a hoist may be used without obtaining a report under this paragraph if within the preceding 6 months there has been obtained under paragraph (1) a certificate which includes a statement to the effect that the hoist is in a safe working condition. (L.N. 552 of 1995)(4) A report under this regulation of a test or examination and the results thereof, signed by the person making or responsible for the carrying out of the test or examination, shall be—
(a) made in the approved form and contain the prescribed particulars; and
(b) delivered forthwith to the contractors concerned. (L.N. 258 of 2003)
(5) The person making the report of any examination required by paragraph (3) shall, within 28 days of the completion of the examination, send to the Commissioner a copy of the report in every case where the examination shows that the hoist cannot continue to be used with safety unless certain repairs are carried out immediately or within a specified time. (L.N. 552 of 1995)
(L.N. 285 of 1993) Editorial Note:
* Commencement date: 21 July 1978.