Hong Kong Regulations

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (WORK IN COMPRESSED AIR) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 21

Medical locks

PART V

MEDICAL LOCKS

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where persons are employed in compressed air in
a working chamber at a pressure exceeding 14 pounds per square inch, a
suitably constructed medical lock shall be provided and maintained.

(2) Where more than 100 persons are so employed at a construction  site, a
medical lock shall be provided for every 100 persons or part thereof.

(3) Every medical lock shall be situated as near as possible to the man-lock.

(4) Every medical lock shall-

   (a)  have not less than 6 feet clear headroom at its highest point;

   (b)  have 2 compartments so that it can be entered while under pressure;

   (c)  have efficient means of verbal communication and means of giving
        non-verbal signals, between persons inside and outside the medical 
        lock and between persons in compartments of the medical lock;

   (d)  have one or more windows through which any person in either
        compartment of the medical lock can be observed from the outside;

   (e)  be adequately ventilated;

   (f)  be protected from the weather and the sun;

   (g)  have adequate lighting and heating and the heating system shall be
        controlled thermostatically or manually.

(5) The wirings of the lighting and heating systems of a medical  lock shall
be of mineral insulated copper cable, complying with the British Standard 6207
or equivalent standard, and the systems shall be such that there is no fire
hazard.

(6) Every medical lock shall be provided with suitable equipment including-

   (a)  a pressure recording gauge, which shall be accurate to within half a
        pound per square inch and the recording on the chart shall be as
        approved by the Commissioner;

   (b)  if a circular recording chart is used it shall rotate at a speed of
        not less than once in 4 hours;

   (c)  a couch not less than 6 feet in length;

   (d)  blankets and dry garments;

   (e)  a water type (gas expelled) fire extinguisher and 2 buckets of dry
        sand for fire fighting; and

   (f)  a food and hot drinks cupboard space.

(7) Every medical lock and its equipment shall be maintained in a clean state.

(8) A chemical closet shall be provided in every medical lock and shall be
regularly serviced.

(9) All furniture and equipment in a medical lock shall be of incombustible or
fire proofed material and all bedding and other furnishings shall be treated
so as to be fire retardant.

(10) A medical lock shall be capable of withstanding a pressure of not less
than 10 pounds per square inch above the maximum pressure used or likely to be
used in the working chamber at any time.

(11) The temperature in a medical lock, when in use, shall not fall below 10
oC, nor rise above 27 oC, for more than 5 consecutive minutes. (L.N. 161 of
1978)