Sunday, September 11, 2011

WSH (Operation of Cranes) Reg 2011 - Part III (Registration of Crane Operators)

Application for registration to be crane operator
6.—(1) A person may apply to the Commissioner for his approval to register as a crane operator.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall be —
(a) in such form and manner as the Commissioner may determine; and
(b) accompanied by the appropriate fee.
(3) Upon receiving an application, the Commissioner may, subject to regulation 7 —
(a) issue the person with a certificate of registration to act as a crane operator (subject to such conditions); or
(b) refuse to approve the application.

Requirements for registration as crane operator
7.—(1) A person may register as a crane operator if he satisfies the Commissioner that —
(a) he has successfully completed a training course acceptable to the Commissioner on the operation of a mobile crane or tower crane;
(b) he has, in the opinion of the Commissioner, sufficient experience in operating a mobile crane or tower crane and has passed a proficiency test acceptable to the Commissioner; or
(c) he possesses any other equivalent qualification acceptable to the Commissioner.
(2) The Commissioner may require an applicant to produce a current medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner which certifies that the applicant is medically fit to operate a mobile crane or tower crane.
(3) The Commissioner shall not register an applicant who has been certified by a registered medical practitioner to be unfit to operate a mobile crane or tower crane.
Certificate of registration
8.—(1) A certificate of registration to act as a crane operator shall, unless the registration is earlier cancelled, be valid for a period of 2 years from the date of registration or for such shorter period as the Commissioner may specify in the certificate of registration.
(2) A certificate of registration is not transferable.
(3) Where a certificate of registration is lost, destroyed or defaced, the holder of the certificate may apply to the Commissioner for a replacement certificate on payment of the appropriate fee.
(4) An application under paragraph (3) to the Commissioner shall be supported by such documentary proof that the certificate of registration issued earlier is lost, destroyed or defaced.

Register of crane operators
9. The Commissioner shall keep an up-to-date register of all persons registered as crane operators.
Production of certificate of registration upon request
10.—(1) Registered crane operator to produce his certificate of registration for inspection upon request by an inspector.
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine
not exceeding $2,000.
Renewal of registration
11.—(1) An application by a person for the renewal of his certificate of registration to act as a crane operator shall be made in such form and manner as the Commissioner may determine, and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee.
(2) Any renewal fee paid is not refundable.
(3) The Commissioner may —
(a) renew the certificate of registration to act as a crane operator for a period of 2 years or for such shorter period as the Commissioner may specify in the certificate of registration; or
(b) refuse the application for renewal if the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is no longer a fit and proper person to be registered as a crane operator.
Conditions for renewal of registration as crane operator
12.—(1) The Commissioner may impose such conditions for the renewal of registration as a crane operator as he thinks fit.
(2) The conditions may include any one or all of the following:
(a) requiring an applicant to attend a refresher course acceptable to the Commissioner on the operation of a mobile crane or a tower crane;
(b) requiring an applicant to pass a proficiency test acceptable to the Commissioner for crane operation;
(c) requiring an applicant to produce a current medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner which certifies that the applicant is medically fit to operate a mobile crane or tower crane.
Suspension and cancellation of registration
13.—(1) The Commissioner may suspend or cancel the registration of any registered crane operator if the Commissioner is satisfied that the registered crane operator —
(a) has obtained his registration by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of
any material fact;
(b) has been certified by a registered medical practitioner to be unfit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane; or
(c) has failed to comply with any of the duties set out in these Regulations.
(2) Duty of a registered crane operator upon becoming aware of any medical condition which may render him unfit to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane to inform the Commissioner of such medical condition without undue delay.
(3) Any person who contravenes paragraph (2) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $2,000.
Notice of suspension and cancellation of registration
14.—(1) When the Commissioner has suspended or cancelled the registration of a registered crane operator under regulation 13, the Commissioner shall inform the registered crane operator concerned by notice in writing of such suspension or cancellation.
(2) The suspension or cancellation shall take effect 21 days after the date of the service of the notice on the registered crane operator or, if an appeal against the suspension or cancellation of registration has been made to the Minister under paragraph (4), on the date the Minister dismisses the appeal.
(3) Notwithstanding that the suspension or cancellation has not taken effect, any registered crane operator whose registration is suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner shall not, between the date of the service of the notice of suspension or cancellation and the date the suspension or cancellation takes effect (both dates inclusive), operate a mobile crane (not being a lorry loader) or a tower crane.
(4) A registered crane operator whose registration has been suspended or cancelled by the Commissioner under regulation 13 may, within 21 days of the date of the service of the notice of suspension or cancellation, appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(5) The notice of suspension or cancellation may be served on any person by delivering it to him, or by leaving it at, or sending it by registered post to, his last known residential address.
Surrender of certificate
15.—(1) A registered crane operator shall immediately surrender to the Commissioner his certificate of registration when the suspension or cancellation takes effect in accordance with regulation 14(2).
(2) Any person who contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Duties of crane operator
16. Duty of a crane operator —
(a) before the start of every workshift, to carry out operational tests on all limiting and indicating devices under no load conditions before any lifting operation is carried out and
shall enter the results of such tests in a log book or log-sheet;
(b) to ascertain whether the ground conditions, in particular the ground surface on which a mobile crane is to be operated, are safe for travel or any lifting operation; and if he is of the
opinion that it is not safe for travel or any lifting operation, he shall report this to the lifting supervisor;
(c) to ensure that any outrigger when it is required is fully extended and secured;
(d) not to carry out any lifting operation unless he has been briefed by the lifting supervisor on the lifting plan referred to in regulation 4;
(e) not to hoist any object if he is unable to ascertain the weight of the load;
(f) not to hoist any load unless he has received a clear signal from a signalman when this is required under regulation 19;
(g) not to engage in any act or manoeuvre which is not in accordance with safe and sound practice;
(h) not to hoist any load if there is any obstruction in the path of manoeuvre and if there is any such obstruction, he shall report this immediately to the lifting supervisor;
(i) not to manoeuvre or hold any suspended load over any public road or public area unless that road or area has been cordoned off;
(j) not to operate a mobile crane or a tower crane within 3m of any live overhead power line;
(k) not to use the crane for any operation for which it is not intended, including pulling or dragging a load;
(l) to ensure that any stationary truck mounted or wheel mounted crane is adequately and securely blocked while it is on a slope; and
(m) to report any failure or malfunction of the crane to the lifting supervisor and to make an appropriate entry of the failure or malfunction in the log book or log-sheet of the crane.

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