Hong Kong Regulations

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (LIFTING APPLIANCES AND LIFTING GEAR) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 18

Construction, testing, examination and safe working load of chains, ropes and lifting gear

PART III

CHAINS, ROPES AND LIFTING GEAR

(1) The owner of any chain, rope or lifting gear used for raising 
or lowering or as a means of suspension shall ensure that the following
provisions are complied with-

   (a)  no chain, rope or lifting gear shall be used unless it is of good
        construction, sound material, and adequate strength, and is free from
        patent defect;

   (b)  subject to paragraph (2), a table, in English and Chinese, showing the
        safe working loads of each kind and size of chain, rope or
        lifting gear in use, and, in the case of a multiple sling, the safe 
        working load at different angles of the legs, shall be posted in a
        prominent position in the premises or place where the chain, rope or
        lifting gear is kept; and no chain, rope or lifting gear not shown in
        the table shall be used;

   (c)  no chain, rope or lifting gear shall be used for any load exceeding
        its safe working load as shown in the table referred to in
        sub-paragraph (b) or marked as mentioned in paragraph (2);

   (d)  no chain, rope or lifting gear (except a fibre rope or fibre-rope
        sling) shall be used unless it has been tested and thoroughly examined
        by a competent examiner in the manner prescribed in the First Schedule
        and a certificate in the approved form in which the competent 
        examiner has made a statement to the effect that it is in safe working
        order has been obtained; (L.N. 285 of 1993)

   (e)  each chain, rope and lifting gear in use shall be thoroughly examined
        by a competent examiner in the preceding 6 months before it is used
        and a certificate in the approved form in which the competent 
        examiner has made a statement to the effect that it is in safe working
        order has been obtained; (L.N. 285 of 1993)

   (ea) each chain, rope and lifting gear shall be inspected before use on
        each occasion by a competent person; (L.N. 191 of 1978)

   (eb) chains shall not be shortened by tying knots in them and adequate
        precautions shall be taken to prevent injury to them from sharp edges;
        (L.N. 191 of 1978)

   (f)  (Repealed L.N. 285 of 1993)

   (g)  the chain, rope or lifting gear in use has clearly and legibly marked
        on it its safe working load together with an appropriate mark to
        distinguish it from other similar lifting gear; (L.N. 285 of 1993)

   (h)  the chain, rope or lifting gear is not loaded beyond its safe 
        working load except for the purpose of testing or examination by a
        competent examiner; and (L.N. 285 of 1993)

   (i)  no wire rope shall be used for raising or lowering or as a 
        means of suspension if in any length of 10 diameters, the total number
        of visible broken wires exceeds 5% of the total number of wires in the
        rope. (L.N. 285 of 1993)

(2) Paragraph (1)(b) shall not apply in relation to any lifting  gear if its
safe working load, or in the case of a multiple sling, the safe working load
at different angles of the legs, is plainly marked upon it in English and
Chinese.

(3) Paragraph (1)(g) shall not apply to a rope or sling if-

   (a)  its safe working load is specified in a certificate required by
        paragraph (1)(d) and the rope or sling is so marked as to enable its
        safe  working load to be ascertained from the certificate; or (L.N. 23
        of 1994)

   (b)  in the case of a fibre rope or fibre sling, its safe working  load can
        be ascertained from a table of safe working load posted in accordance
        with paragraph (1)(b). (L.N. 285 of 1993)