Revised “Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms”

Dear Sir/ Madam,

The Labour Department (LD) launched the revised “Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms” (GNs) today to call on duty holders of workplaces to enhance safety measures in preventing accidents.

2. In response to accidents involving mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) at various workplaces in recent years, the LD has revised and renamed the original “Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Power-operated Elevating Work Platforms”, incorporating common causes of the accidents and preventative measures.  Major revisions include:

• further specifying training requirements for operators, including both theoretical and practical training.  After the completion of the training, operators should duly pass appropriate assessments to become competent operators; and
• adding new operational requirements:
  • installation of effective secondary guarding devices to eliminate the risk of workers being trapped by overhead or adjacent structures or obstacles;
  • conducting regular non-destructive tests on critical load-bearing components to ensure load-bearing structures and supporting structures of MEWPs are in good condition; as well as
• formulating emergency rescue plans to respond to emergency situations so as to reduce injuries and fatalities.

3. A grace period is provided for the new requirements of operator training and installation of secondary guarding devices until 31 December 2026 (i.e. taking effect on 1 January 2027).  The industry must seize the time to make sufficient preparation before the grace period expires.

4. The GNs can be downloaded from the LD’s website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/os/C/EWP.pdf) .  Enquiries on the GNs can be made at 2542 2172.

Best regards,

(CHOI Yuen-ching)

for Commissioner for Labour