Hong Kong MEWP Safety: New Requirements Taking Effect in 2027

Mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) are widely used on construction sites, in warehouses and for building maintenance across Hong Kong. However, entrapment against overhead or adjacent structures, equipment failure and falls can result in serious injuries or fatalities. 

On 4 February 2026, Hong Kong’s Labour Department (LD) issued revised Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms. Two new requirements, operator training and the installation of secondary guarding devices, have a grace period until 31 December 2026 and take effect on 1 January 2027. 

Employers, contractors and EHS teams should review their current arrangements now to identify gaps and prepare for the deadline. 

Why the Guidance Was Revised 

The revision responds to MEWP-related accidents at various workplaces in recent years. The LD reviewed common accident causes and incorporated preventive measures into the updated guidance. 

It revises and renames the former Guidance Notes on Safe Use of Power-operated Elevating Work Platforms. Organisations should review existing procedures, risk assessments and training materials to ensure they reflect the updated guidance. 

Four Key Areas to Address 

1. Operator training and assessment 

The guidance emphasises theoretical and practical training, together with appropriate assessments to establish operator competency. 

What employers should do: 

• Review operator training records and identify outstanding training needs. 

• Confirm that training and assessments are documented. 

• Check that training providers’ courses reflect the revised guidance. 

2. Secondary guarding devices 

Entrapment between a MEWP platform and overhead or adjacent structures is a serious safety hazard. Secondary guarding devices are intended to eliminate or reduce this risk. The guidance outlines suitable device options for addressing entrapment hazards. 

What employers should do: 

• Review owned and hired MEWPs to identify equipment requiring suitable guarding devices. 

• Consult manufacturers or suppliers on appropriate device options. 

• Confirm installation responsibilities and retain relevant records. 

3. Non-destructive testing 

The guidance specifies regular non-destructive testing (NDT) of critical load-bearing and supporting components. NDT helps identify certain defects, such as cracks, without damaging the components being tested. 

What employers should do: 

• Establish an appropriate testing schedule in line with the guidance and manufacturer instructions. 

• Retain test reports and document corrective actions. 

• Ensure identified defects are addressed before affected equipment returns to service. 

4. Emergency rescue plans 

Rescue arrangements help organisations respond to emergencies, including situations where an operator becomes trapped or a platform cannot be lowered normally. 

What employers should do: 

• Prepare or update site-specific rescue plans. 

• Assign responsibilities and confirm communication procedures. 

• Check that necessary rescue equipment is available and practise procedures where appropriate. 

What the Grace Period Means 

The LD has specified a grace period until 31 December 2026 for operator training and the installation of secondary guarding devices. Both new requirements take effect on 1 January 2027. 

The announcement does not specify an equivalent grace period for regular NDT or emergency rescue plans. Duty holders should review these measures against the revised guidance and their existing safety obligations rather than wait until January 2027. 

How the Guidance Relates to Legal Duties 

Guidance notes are not legislation and do not, by themselves, create new statutory offences. They are intended to help duty holders manage workplace risks and meet their existing legal obligations. 

Section 6 of Hong Kong’s Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509) requires employers to ensure employees’ safety and health at work, so far as reasonably practicable. Section 6A of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59) establishes general safety and health duties for proprietors of industrial undertakings, including those relevant to construction work. 

EHS teams should monitor regulatory guidance alongside legislative changes and assess how updates affect existing safety arrangements. 

Preparing Before Year-End 

Use this checklist to assess your MEWP operations: 

• Training: Verify operator competency, assessment records and outstanding training. 

• Equipment: Review secondary guarding needs across owned and hired MEWPs. 

• Testing: Establish documented NDT arrangements and track corrective actions. 

• Emergency response: Update rescue plans, assign responsibilities and practise procedures where appropriate. 

• Documentation: Update relevant risk assessments, method statements and operating procedures. Communicate changes to subcontractors and equipment suppliers. 

Assign an owner and target completion date to each outstanding action and retain records of completed improvements. 

Keep Track of Your EHS Compliance Obligations 

Regulatory guidance can change how organisations are expected to manage workplace risks, even when legislation remains unchanged. EHS teams need visibility over applicable laws and a process for monitoring relevant guidance and translating updates into action. 

The SimplyEHS Legal Register provides curated Hong Kong EHS legislation maintained by ESC regulatory specialists, with quarterly updates to help teams track changes to their compliance obligations. 

Explore the Hong Kong SimplyEHS Legal Register to strengthen your visibility over applicable EHS legislation and support a more structured approach to compliance management.