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Be on the lookout for new Trooper fittings
 Well fitted: The rails help officers keep their balance during rooftop observation duties |
Rooftop railings have been fitted to the Force fleet of Mecedes-Benz Trooper vans to bolster officer safety.
The aluminium handrails allow officers to use the Troopers' roofs as observation platforms, and fold away afterwards.
All 116 Troopers throughout the Police Tactical and Emergency Units, and Districts, have been fitted with the railings.
They also carry an aluminium ladder, stored behind the rear seats, which can be attached to the platform for officers to climb up to it.
PTU Motor Transport Officer Senior Inspector Johnny Chan Chung-yu said the design complied with occupational safety and health regulations, with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department doing the installation work and safety checks. "The railings provide more security and comfort for officers using the roof and will be very useful in crowd management operations," he said.
"Officers can lose their balance while looking through binoculars or doing other jobs on the roof, and the railings will prevent any falls. They can be set up in just minutes, and also folded away to ensure the vehicle's aerodynamics when in motion," he said.
"Officers will be briefed on safety guidelines before they get to use the equipment, and we also ask they regularly remind themselves of these rules which are posted in the vans."
Senior officers at the scene should ensure the guidelines were followed. Regular maintenance checks would also be carried out.
Rules of engagement
Senior officers must ensure railing safety guidelines are followed.
These include: Regular safety checks by Transport Sergeants; Railings cannot be used for bodily support purposes; The vehicle must be properly parked on level ground with the hand brake applied and engine off; Under no circumstances should the vehicle be moved while somebody is on the platform; No more than two people can be on the platform at a time; The first person on the platform must be familiar with the proper locking and assembly of the rail; The rail must be dismantled and securely locked flat before an officer leaves the platform, and the ladder removed before the vehicle drives off.