Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations

Hoists and lifts

19.—(1) No hoist or lift shall be used in a workplace unless an authorised examiner has —

(a)	tested and examined the hoist or lift after its installation; and
(b)	issued and signed a certificate of test and examination, specifying the safe working load of the hoist or lift. [S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(2) The certificate of test and examination referred to in paragraph (1)(b) shall be kept available for inspection.

(3) Subject to paragraph (10)(c), every hoist or lift used in a workplace shall be thoroughly examined by an authorised examiner at least once every 6 months or at such other intervals as the Commissioner may determine.

[S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(4) Every hoistway or liftway used in a workplace shall be efficiently protected by a substantial enclosure fitted with gates that will, when the gates are shut, prevent any person from falling down the way or coming into contact with any moving part of the hoist or lift.

[S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(5) Subject to paragraph (10)(b), any gate referred to in paragraph (4) shall be fitted with efficient interlocking or other devices to ensure that —

(a)	the gate cannot be opened except when the cage or platform is at the landing; and
(b)	the cage or platform cannot be moved away from the landing until the gate is closed.

(6) Every hoist or lift and every enclosure referred to in paragraph (4) shall be so constructed as to prevent any part of any person or any goods carried in the hoist or lift being trapped between —

(a)	any part of the hoist or lift and any fixed structure; or
(b)	the counterbalance weight and any other moving part of the hoist or lift.

(7) Every hoist or lift shall be marked conspicuously with the maximum working load which it can safely carry.

(8) No hoist or lift shall be used in a workplace to carry a load exceeding its maximum working load.

[S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(9) The following additional requirements shall apply to lifts used in a workplace:

(a)

efficient automatic devices shall be provided and maintained to prevent the cage or platform from over-running;

(b)

every cage shall, on each side from which access is afforded to a landing, be fitted with a gate with efficient devices to ensure that, when persons or goods are in the cage, the cage —

(i)	cannot be raised or lowered unless all the gates are closed; and
(ii)	will come to rest when a gate is opened; and

(c)

where the cage or platform of the lift is suspended by rope or chain —

(i)	the cage or platform shall be separately connected with at least 2 ropes or chains, each rope or chain and its attachments being capable of carrying the whole weight of the cage or platform and its maximum working load; and
(ii)	efficient devices shall be provided and maintained which will support the cage or platform with its maximum working load in the event of a breakage of the ropes or chains or any of their attachments. [S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(10) In the case of a hoist or lift used in a workplace which is not powered with mechanical power —

(a)	paragraph (9) shall not apply;
(b)	the gate referred to in paragraph (4) shall be kept closed and fastened except when the cage or platform is at rest at the landing; and
(c)	a thorough examination of the hoist or lift shall be carried out at least once every year by an authorised examiner. [S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(11) Where a hoistway or liftway inside a workplace passes through 2 or more floors —

(a)	the hoistway or liftway shall be completely enclosed with fire-resisting materials, except that the top shall be enclosed only by some material easily broken in case of fire, or be provided with a vent; and
(b)	all means of access to the hoist or lift shall be fitted with doors of fire-resisting materials. [S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(12) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace in which a hoist or lift is used to comply with paragraphs (1) to (11).

[S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(13) It shall be the duty of an authorised examiner to —

(a)

issue and sign a certificate, in a form determined by the Commissioner, of the result of the examination referred to in paragraph (3);

(b)

provide the certificate referred to in sub-paragraph (a) to the occupier of the workplace;

[S 517/2011 wef 10/09/2011]

(c)

inform the Commissioner —

(i)	as soon as is reasonably practicable, if the examination shows that the hoist or lift cannot continue to be used safely unless repairs are made; or
(ii)	in any other case, within 28 days of the completion of the examination, of the results of the examination in a manner acceptable to the Commissioner; and

(d)

exercise all due diligence in making any certification or in conducting any test or examination of any hoist or lift under this regulation.

(14) For the purposes of this regulation, no lifting machine or appliance shall be considered to be a hoist or lift unless it has a cage or platform and the direction of movement of the cage or platform is restricted by a guide or guides.

(15) This regulation shall not apply to any lift which has been inspected and tested under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management (Lift and Building Maintenance) Regulations 2005 (G.N. No. S 194/2005) and for which a Certificate of Lift Maintenance and Testing has been lodged with the Commissioner of Buildings.

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