Work Safety Ordinance [New Version], 5730-1970

Every floor, step, stairs, passage and gangway shall be of sound construction and properly maintained.

Every opening in a floor shall be securely fenced; this provision shall not apply to the extent that by reason of the nature of the process fencing is impracticable.

Every ladder shall be of sound construction and properly maintained.

In this Section, except in section 65(2), "car" – includes a platform.

A lift shall be of good mechanical construction, made of sound material and adequately strengthened, and properly maintained, together with all gates, interlocking devices and other appliances required under this Section.

A new lift shall not be brought into use unless it has been thoroughly tested and examined by an authorised inspector and a report has been received specifying its safe working load.

A lift shall not be used unless it has been thoroughly examined by an authorised inspector within the six months preceding the use and a report on the results of the examination has been received.

If a defect is found pursuant to a report as referred to in sections 59a or 60 by reason of which the lift is not fit for use, the lift shall not be operated until the defect has been repaired.

A lift shaft shall be effectively protected by a substantial enclosure fitted with gates, which shall be sufficient to prevent a person, when the gates are closed, from falling into the shaft or from coming into contact with any moving part of the lift.

Every gate referred to in section 61 shall be fitted with efficient interlocking or other efficient devices to ensure that the gate cannot be opened except when the car is at the landing and that it shall be impossible to move the car from the landing unless the gate is closed.

A lift and the enclosure referred to in section 61 shall be constructed so that goods or a person carried in the car cannot, whether themselves or any part of them, become trapped between any part of the lift and any structure, or between the counterweight and any other moving part of the lift.

The maximum working load that may safely be carried in a lift shall be prominently marked on it, and no load whose weight exceeds that load shall be carried in it.

The following additional requirements shall apply to a lift used for carrying persons, whether together with goods or without them:

The provisions of sections 61 to 66 shall not apply to a continuous lift, and in section 60(a) "six months" shall be read as "twelve months".

The provisions of sections 62, 65 and 66 shall not apply to a lift that is not operated by mechanical power, and every gate fitted pursuant to section 61 shall be kept closed and fastened, except when the car is in position at the gate, and in section 60(a) "six months" shall be read as "twelve months".

An opening in a wall used for raising or lowering goods or materials, whether by mechanical power or otherwise, shall be securely guarded and fitted with handholds on both sides; the guard shall be kept in position, except when goods or materials are being raised or lowered, and shall be properly maintained.

If the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that in respect of a particular installation, or in respect of a class of installations referred to in this Section, it is not practicable or reasonable to comply with any of its provisions, he may grant exemption therefrom subject to such conditions as he thinks fit; an exemption under this section in respect of a particular installation shall be by certificate, and in respect of a class of installations shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

In this Section –

"escalator" – a motorised stairway in a closed system, designed for raising or lowering persons;

"part on which the safety of the escalator depends" – any one of the following:

"safe working load" – the maximum working load prescribed in the manufacturer's instructions, or a maximum working load prescribed by the Minister by Regulations;

"material alteration" – an alteration to the structure of the escalator or its control system, including the addition or repair of a part on which the safety of the escalator depends, which results in a deviation from the original design;

"material repair", in respect of a part on which the safety of the escalator depends – the overhaul or replacement of the part by way of upgrading or the replacement of worn or defective parts including the welding of the part, but excluding the replacement of a worn or defective part with an identical new part;

"standard" – an official Israeli standard or an Israeli standard within the meaning of the Standards Law, 5713-1953, and in the absence of such a standard, European Standard EN 115 or another international standard declared by the Chief Inspector by notice published in Reshumot (Official Gazette) and deposited for inspection at the Institute for Safety and Hygiene within the meaning of the Work Inspection (Organisation) Law, 5714-1954.

An escalator shall not be constructed unless it complies with the requirements of the standard.

An escalator shall not be operated for the first time unless an authorised inspector has approved its operation after carrying out a thorough examination of the escalator and has submitted a report in accordance with the provisions of section 119a, in which the safe working load of the escalator is specified.

An escalator shall not be operated unless it has been thoroughly examined by an authorised inspector within the twelve months preceding the operation, and the inspector has approved its operation in a report submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 119a.

An escalator in which a material alteration or a material repair has been carried out shall not be operated unless it has been examined and approved as referred to in section 70d.

An authorised inspector shall affix to the escalator a label concerning the examination and its date; the Minister may prescribe the form of the label, the particulars to be specified therein and its location.

The Chief Inspector shall determine the parts of an escalator on which the safety of the escalator depends and shall publish a notice to that effect in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

The Minister may prescribe by Regulations provisions regarding the structure of an escalator, the methods of examination and approval of an escalator, the methods of use of an escalator and its maintenance, all subject to the standard.

"lifting gear" – any device used or intended to be used, directly or indirectly, for connecting a load to a lifting appliance and not permanently attached to the load, including a chain sling, rope sling, ring, hook, swivel, shackle, snap hook, swivel lock, triangular lifting eye, link, plate clamps, beam clamps, scissor clamps, a container for lifting materials or equipment, a two-jaw bucket, an eye bolt, a lifting beam, a lifting frame and any similar device forming part of a lifting appliance or a means of suspension, and including a support of a lifting appliance in which there is a working platform or stage;

"rope" – includes a cable.

No chain, rope or lifting gear shall be used unless it is of good construction, sound material, adequate strength and free from patent defect.

No chain, rope or lifting gear shall be used for a load exceeding the safe working load thereof as entered or marked in accordance with section 73.

All chains, ropes and lifting gear in use shall be thoroughly examined by an authorised inspector at least once in every six months, or at such longer intervals as may be prescribed.

Chains, ropes and lifting gear – other than fibre ropes or fibre-rope slings – shall not be taken into use in a factory unless they have been tested and thoroughly examined by an authorised inspector, and the report, specifying the safe working load and signed by the authorised inspector who carried out the test and examination, has been received and is available for inspection.

In this Section –

"lifting machine" – a lifting appliance, including a crane, derrick, tripod, pull-lift, excavating crane, piling machine, winch, forklift truck, pulley block, chain block, cable block, gin wheel, overhead conveyor, cable runway, aerial ropeway and any other machine capable of raising, lowering or suspending a load by means of lifting gear;

"parts", in a lifting machine – including the mechanism for its operation and its accessories, whether fixed or moving, and anchoring and securing devices.

A lifting machine with all its parts shall be of good construction, sound material, adequate strength and free from patent defect, and shall be properly maintained.

A lifting machine with all its parts shall be thoroughly examined at least once in every fourteen months by an authorised inspector.

Rails on which a travelling crane runs, and a runway on which the crab or trolley of a transporter bridge or overhead conveyor travels, shall be of adequate dimensions, sufficient strength and smooth running surface, and shall be properly laid, supported or anchored to a sufficient extent and properly maintained.

The safe working loads of a lifting machine shall be clearly marked thereon; however, a jib crane so constructed that the safe working load may vary with the elevation or depression of the jib shall be fitted with an automatic safe load indicator or a table showing the safe working loads at every inclination of the jib or every radius of the load.

A lifting machine shall not be loaded with a load exceeding the safe working load as marked or entered in accordance with section 84, except for the purpose of testing.

A lifting machine shall not be taken into use in a factory unless it has been tested and all its parts thoroughly examined by an authorised inspector, and the report, specifying the safe working loads of the lifting machine and signed by the authorised inspector who carried out the test and examination, has been received and is available for inspection.

Where a person is working or is employed on the runway of an overhead travelling crane, or in proximity to such a runway, at a place where he is liable to be struck by the crane, effective measures shall be taken to ensure that the crane does not approach within six metres of that place.