
Hong Kong dockyards and terminals should carry out open-up inspections to the stress-bearing parts of dock arms every four years says the region’s Marine department following an investigation the fatality of a worker on a floating dock.
A dock arm is a lifting appliance used for conveying workers to the vicinity of hull plates of a vessel under repair to carry out grit-blasting or painting in dockyards. On the extremity of the arm, there is a rotating work platform which remains horizontal at different angles of inclination. Four-yearly inspections are required by the Code of Practice for Competent Examiners on the Examination of Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear on Local Vessels issued by Marine Department. Continue reading »