Among the 147 lifts inspected, five units are removed from services for repair as some of their suspension ropes fail to comply with the Code of Practice for Lift Works and Escalator Works. The removal from service is not due to safety considerations. Even if the diameter of a suspension rope is reduced by 10 per cent, the overall safety factor still maintains at 10 times or above. The five lifts removed from services are located at:
1. Kwun Tong Industrial Centre Phase 1
2. Kwun Tong Industrial Centre Phase 2
3. Kwun Tong Industrial Centre Phase 3
4. 18 Grampian Road, Kowloon City
5. 480 King's Road, North Point
The safety protection system failed to function in the incident. This happened for the first time in our record. As the incident involved safety protection devices, the EMSD will seriously look into the case. Disciplinary action is being considered to be taken against the registered contractor and related persons violating the regulations.
The EMSD will increase the number of inspections on the registered contractors who obtained low performance scores. Full inspection will be conducted if irregularity is identified.
Ends/Monday, March 4, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:42
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