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Occupational Safety and Health

Goods vehicle fitted with tail lift

Q1. What are the legal requirements of the Labour Department (LD) with regard to the safe use of tail lifts? Answer
Q2. Is it necessary to strictly follow the illustrations/ photos in the GN to install the safety devices?Answer  

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Q1. What are the legal requirements of the Labour Department (LD) with regard to the safe use of tail lifts?
 
A1.

According to the general duties provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509) and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59), proprietors/ employers shall, so far as reasonably practicable, provide and maintain safe plant (including tail lifts) and systems of work. They shall also provide necessary information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure the occupational safety and health of their workers/ employees.

The LD has issued the “Guidance Notes on Prevention of Trapping Hazard of Tail Lifts” (GN), which provides practical guidance for the duty-holders. The GN has specifically set out the requirements on safe operation of tail lifts of lorries, including the installation of the following safety devices, so as to comply with the general duties provisions:

  1. two-hand control device;
  2. audio and visual warning devices (such as buzzers and flashing lamps, etc.);
  3. locking device;
  4. foot protector;
  5. system to maintain the opening and closing of tail lifts at a slow and even speed; and
  6. tripping device.

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Q2. Is it necessary to strictly follow the illustrations/ photos in the GN to install the safety devices?
 
A2.

The GN aims to provide safety guidance for general purpose tail lifts. Proprietors/ employers should take into account of different designs, uses, types, models of the vehicles/ tail lifts to install the safety devices. The illustrations/ photos in the GN are for reference only. As long as the safety devices could serve the purpose to protect the occupational safety of workers/ employees in accordance with the principles set out in the GN, they are deemed to comply with the safety requirements of the GN.

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