Safety in Industry Act, 1980

Cranes and other lifting machines.

28.Section 35 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—

(a) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):

“(2) All such parts and gear as are specified in subsection (1) of this section shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once in every—

(a) in the case of a vehicle lifting table, twenty-six months,

(b) in the case of any other lifting machine, fourteen months,

and a register shall be kept containing the prescribed particulars of every such examination.”;

and

(b) the substitution of the following subsections for subsection (8):

“(7A) No person under eighteen years shall be employed to operate a lifting machine which is driven by mechanical power unless he is under adequate supervision for purposes of training, and section 32 (1) of this Act (inserted by section 17 of the Safety in Industry Act, 1980) shall be construed and have effect subject to the provisions of this subsection.

(8) Where a person who is in control of a lifting machine which is driven by mechanical power, other than a lifting machine which is a computerised stacking machine or a lifting machine which is similar to a computerised stacking machine and which, in either case, is remotely and automatically controlled in relation to an automatic loading, unloading or transporting process, is at any time, while the machine is being used by him to lift a load, unable to see the load, another person, who shall be not less than eighteen years, shall be stationed in a position where he can see the load and be employed to give signals to the person using the machine.

(9) (a) Every signal given in relation to the moving or stopping of a lifting machine shall be both distinctive in character and such that the person to whom it is given can easily see or hear it, as may be appropriate.

(b) Any device, apparatus or other thing used to give signals to which paragraph (a) of this subsection applies shall be both properly maintained and adequately protected to prevent accidental interference or damage.

(10) In this section ‘lifting machine’ includes,

(a) a crane, crab, winch, teagle, pulley block, gin wheel, transporter, runway, straddle truck or straddle carrier,

(b) a vehicle which can be used to transport goods and which is fitted with forks or any other attachment for stacking, loading or unloading goods, and

(c) a lifting table which is used to give access to the underside of motor vehicles.”.