Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations

Factories Act

(Chapter 104, Sections 68, 77 and 102)

Rg 10

G.N. No. S 445/1998

REVISED EDITION 1999

(1st September 1999)

[1st September 1998;

1st March 1999;

1st September 2000]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Factories (Operation of Cranes) Regulations.

Definitions

2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“certificate” means a certificate of registration issued under regulation 8;

“crane” means a machine incorporating an elevated structural member or jib beneath which suspended loads may be moved vertically (whether upwards or downwards) or horizontally or both, either by slewing the machine, derricking the jib or by any other means not solely involving a travelling motion of the crane;

“mobile crane” means a crane mounted on a truck, crawler or on wheels and includes any crane of a type shown in the First Schedule;

“tower crane” means a crane which has a vertical or near vertical tower designed to be free standing up to a height specified by the Chief Inspector and includes any crane of a type shown in the Second Schedule.

Application

3. These Regulations shall apply to any factory in which a crane, mobile crane or tower crane is employed.

Registration of crane operators

4.—(1) No person shall operate a mobile crane or tower crane in a factory unless he is registered as a crane operator under these Regulations and is the holder of a valid certificate.

(2) No person shall employ or cause or permit any person who is not registered as a crane operator under these Regulations to operate a mobile crane or tower crane in a factory.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person may —

(a)	drive a mobile crane in a factory if he is the holder of a driving licence issued under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) authorising him to drive a mobile crane of a class or description permitted by the licence, but he shall not operate the mobile crane unless he also satisfies the requirements of paragraph (1); and
(b)	operate a lorry loader comprising of an articulator arm fitted onto a lorry which is used primarily for the purpose of transporting materials or goods.

5. For the purposes of these Regulations, the Chief Inspector shall keep and maintain, in such form as he may determine, a register of all crane operators registered under these Regulations.

Qualifications necessary for registration

6.—(1) No person shall be registered as a crane operator under these Regulations unless —

(a)	he has successfully completed an appropriate training course conducted by any institution or organisation acceptable to the Chief Inspector;
(b)	he has, in the opinion of the Chief Inspector, sufficient experience in operating a mobile crane or tower crane and has passed a trade test approved by the Chief Inspector; or
(c)	he possesses any other equivalent qualification acceptable to the Chief Inspector.

(2) The Chief Inspector may require an applicant to produce a current medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner which certifies that the applicant is fit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane.

(3) The Chief Inspector shall not register an applicant who has been certified to be unfit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane by a registered medical practitioner.

Application for registration

7. An application for registration as a crane operator shall be made in such manner as the Chief Inspector may determine and shall be accompanied by a fee of $20.

Certificate of registration

8. Where a person has been registered in the register of crane operators, the Chief Inspector shall issue him a certificate of registration which shall be valid for a period of 2 years unless otherwise stated in the certificate.

Production of certificate upon request

9. Any person who operates a mobile crane or a tower crane shall, upon the request of an inspector, produce his certificate for inspection.

Renewal of registration

10.—(1) Every person who is registered as a crane operator under these Regulations may apply to the Chief Inspector, in such manner as the Chief Inspector may determine, to renew his registration upon the expiry of his certificate.

(2) The Chief Inspector may, on receipt of the payment of a fee of $20, renew the registration of the applicant for a period not exceeding 2 years and issue a fresh certificate of registration.

Conditions for renewal of registration as crane operator

11.—(1) The Chief Inspector may impose such conditions for the renewal of registration as a crane operator as he thinks fit.

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) include —

(a)	requiring an applicant to attend a refresher course in crane operation conducted by an institution or organisation acceptable to the Chief Inspector;
(b)	requiring an applicant to pass a trade test approved by the Chief Inspector for crane operation; and
(c)	requiring an applicant to produce a current medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner which certifies that the applicant is fit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane.

Application for duplicate certificate

12.—(1) A registered crane operator may apply for a duplicate certificate to replace a certificate issued under regulation 8 or 10 which has been lost or destroyed.

(2) The Chief Inspector may issue a duplicate certificate on receipt of the payment of a fee of $10.

Cancellation of registration

13.—(1) The Chief Inspector may by order cancel the registration of any registered crane operator if the Chief Inspector is satisfied that the registered crane operator —

(a)	has obtained his registration under these Regulations by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact;
(b)	has been certified unfit by a registered medical practitioner to drive or operate a mobile crane or a tower crane; or
(c)	has failed to comply with any of the duties set out in these Regulations.

(2) A registered crane operator shall, upon becoming aware of any medical condition which may render him unfit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane, inform the Chief Inspector of such medical condition without undue delay.

Notice of cancellation of registration

14.—(1) When the Chief Inspector has cancelled the registration of a registered crane operator under regulation 13, the Chief Inspector shall forthwith inform the registered crane operator concerned by notice in writing of such cancellation.

(2) An order of cancellation shall take effect on the date of the service of the order on the registered crane operator.

(3) A registered crane operator whose registration has been cancelled by the Chief Inspector under regulation 13 may, within 21 days of the date of the service of the order of cancellation, appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.

(4) An order of cancellation may be served on any person by delivering it to him, or by leaving it at, or sending it by registered post to, his residence.

Surrender of certificate

15. A registered crane operator shall forthwith surrender to the Chief Inspector his certificate of registration on receipt of the order of cancellation referred to in regulation 14.

Duties of crane operator

16. Any person operating a crane —

(a)	shall not carry out any lifting operation unless a lifting supervisor is present or has approved the carrying out of such operation;
(b)	shall not engage in any act or manoeuvre which is not in accordance with safe and sound practice;
(c)	shall ascertain whether the ground conditions, in particular the ground surface on which a mobile crane is to be operated, are safe for travel or any lifting operation, and if he is of the opinion that it is not safe for travel or any lifting operation, he shall report this to the lifting supervisor;
(d)	shall not use the crane for any operation for which it is not intended, including pulling or dragging a load;
(e)	shall not manoeuvre or hold any suspended load over any public road or public area unless that road or area has been cordoned off;
(f)	shall ensure that any outrigger when it is required is fully extended and secured;
(g)	shall before the start of every workshift, carry out operational tests on all limit switches under no load conditions before any lifting operation is carried out and shall enter the results of such tests in a log-book or log‑sheet;
(h)	shall report any failure or malfunction of the crane to the lifting supervisor and shall make an appropriate entry in the log-book or log-sheet of the crane;
(i)	shall ensure that any stationary truck mounted or wheel mounted crane is adequately and securely blocked while it is on a slope;
(j)	shall not hoist any object if he is unable to ascertain the weight of the object;
(k)	shall not hoist any load if there is any obstruction in the path of manoeuvre and if there is any such obstruction, he shall report this immediately to the lifting supervisor;
(l)	shall not hoist any load unless he has received a clear signal from a signalman when this is required under regulation 19; and
(m)	shall not operate a mobile crane or a tower crane within 3 metres of any live overhead power line.

Installation, repair, alteration, testing and dismantling of mobile crane or tower crane

17.—(1) No person shall install, repair, alter or dismantle a mobile crane or a tower crane unless he is an approved crane contractor.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply —

(a)	to the installation or dismantling of a fly jib; and
(b)	to the repair of any non-load bearing part of a crane, unless the repair affects the safe operation of the crane, according to the safety guidelines issued by the Chief Inspector.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), an approved crane contractor shall —

(a)	before he installs, repairs, alters or dismantles any mobile crane or tower crane, obtain a manufacturer's manual which contains instructions on the safe procedures for the installation, repair, alteration and dismantling of the mobile crane or tower crane; and
(b)	ensure that the crane is installed, repaired, altered or dismantled in accordance with the instructions contained in such manual.

(4) Where the manual referred to in paragraph (3) is not available, an approved crane contractor shall install, repair, alter or dismantle any mobile crane or tower crane under the immediate supervision of an approved person.

(5) The owner of any mobile crane or tower crane shall ensure that —

(a)	the crane is tested and certified safe by an approved person for the operations for which it is intended; and
(b)	the crane shall not be used unless it has been tested and certified in accordance with sub-paragraph (a).

(6) For the purposes of this regulation, “approved crane contractor” means any firm or company which has been approved by the Chief Inspector in writing, subject to such terms and conditions as the Chief Inspector may impose.

Appointment and duties of rigger

18.—(1) No person shall rig up loads for any lifting operation by a mobile crane or tower crane unless he is a rigger appointed by an occupier.

(2) An occupier shall appoint a rigger for the purposes set out in paragraph (5) before any lifting operation involving the use of any mobile crane or tower crane is carried out.

(3) No person shall be appointed as a rigger unless he has successfully completed a training course approved by the Chief Inspector.

(4) A rigger who is appointed under paragraph (1) shall be attired in such a way as would distinctively identify him as a rigger.

(5) A rigger appointed under paragraph (1) shall —

(a)	check the slings to be used for slinging the loads to ensure that the slings are of good construction, sound and suitable material, adequate strength and free from patent defect;
(b)	ensure that an adequate number of legs of the sling are used and that the slinging angle is correct so as to prevent the sling from being overloaded during the hoisting;
(c)	ascertain the weight of the load which is to be lifted and inform the crane operator of the weight of the load;
(d)	ensure that only proper lifting gears are used in conjunction with the sling;
(e)	ensure that the load to be lifted is secure, stable and balanced;
(f)	ensure that any loose load including stones, bricks or tiles, is placed in a receptacle to prevent the load or part thereof from falling during the lifting operation;
(g)	place adequate padding at the edges of the load which come in contact with the sling so as to prevent the sling from being damaged; and
(h)	report any defect in the lifting gear to the lifting supervisor.

Appointment and duties of signalman

19.—(1) An occupier shall appoint a signalman for the purposes set out in paragraph (4) before any lifting operation involving the use of any mobile crane or tower crane is carried out.

(2) No person shall be appointed as a signalman unless he has successfully completed a training course approved by the Chief Inspector.

(3) A signalman who is appointed under paragraph (1) shall be attired in such a way as would distinctively identify him as a signalman.

(4) A signalman appointed under paragraph (1) shall —

(a)	ensure or verify with the rigger that the load is properly rigged up before he gives a clear signal to the crane operator to lift the load; and
(b)	give correct and clear signals to guide the crane operator in the manoeuvre of the load safely to its destination.

Appointment and duties of lifting supervisor

20.—(1) An occupier shall appoint a lifting supervisor for the purposes set out in paragraph (3) before any lifting operation involving the use of any crane, mobile crane or tower crane is carried out.

(2) No person shall be appointed as a lifting supervisor for any lifting operation involving the use of a mobile crane or tower crane unless he —

(a)	has successfully completed a training course approved by the Chief Inspector; and
(b)	has, in the opinion of the occupier, such relevant experience in lifting operations for at least one year.

(3) A lifting supervisor appointed under paragraph (1) shall —

(a)	co-ordinate all lifting activities;
(b)	ensure that only registered crane operators, appointed riggers and appointed signalmen participate in any lifting operation involving the use of a mobile crane or a tower crane;
(c)	ensure that the ground conditions are safe for any lifting operation to be performed by any mobile crane;
(d)	unless he is present to supervise a lifting operation, ensure that there is a set of safe lifting procedures for any lifting operation by a mobile crane or a tower crane;
(e)	brief all crane operators, riggers and signalmen on the safe lifting procedures referred to in sub-paragraph (d); and
(f)	if any unsatisfactory or unsafe conditions are reported to him by any crane operator or rigger, take such measures to rectify the unsatisfactory or unsafe condition or otherwise ensure that any lifting operation is carried out safely.

[G.N. No. S 445/98]

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