This guide is prepared by the O ccupational Safety and H ealth Branch,

Labour D epartm ent

This edition M arch 2004
This guide is issued free of charge and can be obtained from offices of the
O ccupational Safety and H ealth Branch, Labour D epartm ent. It can also be
dow nloaded from w ebsite of the Labour D epartm ent at http://w w w .labour.
gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm . A ddresses and telephone num bers of the
offices can be found in w ebsite of the D epartm ent at http://w w w .labour.gov.
hk/eng/tele/osh.htm .
This guide m ay be freely reproduced except for advertising, endorsem ent or
com m ercial purposes. Please acknow ledge the source as Safe U se of M aterial
H oist - Interlocking D evise on H oistw ay G ate, published by the Labour
D epartm ent.
Safe Use of Material Hoist
Int erlocking Device on Hoist way Gat e
Introduction
I ntroduction
I ntroduction
This pamphlet outlines the control measures in relation to landing gates of material
hoists. All users and operators should be familiar with other safety requirements
associated with the safe use of a material hoist.
M aterial hoist is a plant com m only used on construction sites
for m aterial transportation. In the past few years, serious accidents
did occur during the use of m aterial hoists. The com m on scenario of
the cases w as that the platform /skip of a hoist suddenly m oved w hile
loading or unloading w as in progress. That caused the w orker using
the hoist to fall into the hoistw ay arising from loss of body balance
at an unfenced edge, or being trapped by the
m oving part of the hoist.
N
O
Statutory Requirements
Regulation 31(1)(b) of the C onstruction Sites (Safety) Regulations,
C hapter 59I, stipulates that a m aterial hoist shall not be used unless
the enclosure is, w here access to and egress from the hoist is required,
fitted w ith secure gates.
Regulation 31(1)(d) of the C onstruction Sites (Safety) Regulations,
C hapter 59I, stipulates that a m aterial hoist shall not be used unless
the gates are kept closed, except w here the hoist platform or cage is
at rest at a landing place and it is for the tim e being necessary for the
gate to be opened for the purpose of loading or unloading goods,
plant and m aterial.
Regulation 31(2) of the C onstruction Sites (Safety) R egulations,
C hapter 59I, stipulates that every person using a m aterial hoist shall
ensure that the gate is closed im m ediately after use unless it is for
the tim e being necessary to keep the gate open in accordance w ith
regulation 31(1)(d).
Section 6A of the Factories and Industrial U ndertakings O rdinance,
C hapter 59, and Section 6 of the O ccupational Safety and H ealth
O rdinance, C hapter 509, im pose general duties on proprietors/
em ployers for the provision and m aintenance of safe plant.
Section 6A of the Factories and Industrial U ndertakings O rdinance,
C hapter 59, and Section 6 of the O ccupational Safety and H ealth
O rdinance, C hapter 509, im pose general duties on proprietors/
em ployers for the provision of inform ation, instruction, training and
supervision.
Section 6B of the Factories and Industrial U ndertakings O rdinance,
C hapter 59, and Section 8 of the O ccupational Safety and H ealth
O rdinance, C hapter 509, im pose general duties on em ployees to take
reasonable care for their ow n safety and health as w ell as others,
and co-operate w ith the proprietors/em ployers to enable the safety
requirem ents to be com plied w ith.
Safe Use of Material Hoist
Int erlocking Device on Hoist way Gat e
A nalysis of the past accident cases on m aterial hoists reveals
that m ost accidents w ere attributable to the m isinterpreting or
m isunderstanding of the instructions or signals betw een the users
and the operators of hoists. O ne of the possible approaches to guard
against the sudden m ovem ent of a hoist platform /skip is to equip
each hoistw ay gate w ith interlocking device such that the hoist is
operable only w hen all gates are kept closed. The analysis, how ever,
identifies that -
C ertain hoistw ay gates w ere not installed w ith any interlocking
device; or
W here a hoistw ay gate had been equipped w ith an interlocking
device, the design and installation of the device w as vulnerable to
external interference. The m ost com m on one w as jam m ing of the
interlocking device thereby defeating the purpose of keeping all gates
closed before the hoist could operate.
Problems Encountered
Control Measures
1. Engineering Controls
H oistw ay gates of a m aterial hoist should be fitted w ith
effective interlocking devices such that the hoist is operable
only w hen all gates are closed.
Interlocking devices should be properly and securely installed.
P
Q
Interlocking devices should be so positioned and protected
that they are inaccessible to unauthorized persons for the
purpose of avoiding interference.
Electrom echanical interlocking devices should be properly
encased and sealed to prevent them from being affected by
w ater, dust and other contam inants.
Interlocking devices should be correctly set, regularly checked
and adjusted, and properly m aintained to ensure that they
are alw ays kept in good w orking order.
For the com m on hinged type hoistw ay gates, an exam ple
is provided in w hich the interlocking device is incorporated
w ith a m etal flap hinged by a horizontal axle and installed at
the top of each landing gate and across the full w idth of the
hoistw ay. The counterw eight on the axle keeps the flap
pointing vertically dow nw ards w hen the landing gate is fully
closed. The flap w ill m ove upw ards as soon as the gate is
being pulled opened. The subsequent m ovem ent of a cam on
the axle w ill then actuate a m icro-sw itch. Through such
installation and arrangem ent, the hoist platform /cage can be
prevented from any m ovem ent. (Please refer to Sketch 1
below .)
Examples on Engineering Control Measures
Safe Use of Material Hoist
Int erlocking Device on Hoist way Gat e
Sketch 1 Sketch 1
R
The hinged type hoistway gates
hoist frame
interlocking
device
hinged flap
linked to an
axle
hoistway
gates
landing place
Sketch for Sliding gates
Sketch 2 Sketch 2
The interlocking devices for sliding gates are designed on a sim ilar principle.
A typical exam ple given is one in w hich a m icro-sw itch of the interlocking device
is triggered by an upw ard sliding action of the gate. (Please refer to Sketches 2 and
3 below .)
S
hoist frame
interlocking device
(micro-switch protected
by enclosure)
gates closed
rail fixed alongside
the sliding gate
~ ~
micro-switch
enclosure
Safe Use of Material Hoist
Int erlocking Device on Hoist way Gat e
Sketch 3 Sketch 3
T
ready for loading
gates
opened
Depressi ng of the
i nterl ocki ng devi ce
causing the material
hoist not operable
micro-switch is
depressed
U
A perm it-to-w ork system that consists of safety checks for a m aterial hoist and
interlocking device, and ensures persons using it are aw are of its safe operation
should be developed and im plem ented.
A m aintenance program m e on daily checks, periodic tests and exam inations,
etc. of a m aterial hoist, w ith particular em phasis on the safety devices installed
thereon, should be developed and im plem ented.
In the event of any break dow n or m al-functioning of a m aterial hoist, only
experienced hoist technicians should be allow ed to carry out rem edial actions.
W orkers using the hoist should not carry out such w ork.
A n operation plan for the safe use of a m aterial hoist, in the light of any changes
to site conditions, w ork activities and/or procedures, should be developed,
im plem ented and constantly review ed.
Training for w orkers on the safe use of a m aterial hoist should be provided.
O nly w orkers w ho have received proper training are allow ed to w ork w ith
m aterial hoists; unauthorized use of m aterial hoists is prohibited.
Records of m aterial hoist users should be kept and access to the operating panels
or sw itches of hoist should be controlled.
W arning notices rem inding w orkers on safe use of m aterial hoists should be
displayed.
Loading or unloading betw een upper floors should be discouraged; all goods
are as far as practicable to be up-delivered from the floor w here control panel of
the hoist is provided, and vice versa.
Loading or unloading w ork should be adequately supervised. A closed-circuit
television system could be em ployed to enhance the surveillance on the activity.
Effective signalling arrangem ents for operating the hoist should be established
and m aintained betw een the user and the operator of a m aterial hoist.
C oordination should be established and m aintained am ong all parties to ensure
that w orkers understand and follow the necessary safety procedures w hen using
a m aterial hoist.
Management Controls
Safe Use of Material Hoist
Int erlocking Device on Hoist way Gat e
V
Enquiry Enquiry
For enquiry about the contents of this pam phlet or for
advice on occupational safety and health, please contact
us at:
Telephone : 2559 2297
Fax : 2915 1410
E-mail : enquiry@labour.gov.hk
Inform ation on the services offered by the O ccupational
Safety and H ealth C ouncil can be obtained through
H otline 2739 9000.