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EMPLOYMENT
concerned with preventing occupational diseases and protecting workers against health hazards in their working environment. These hazards are reported by the statutory notification of occupational diseases, by the factory inspectorate, or by officers of the division. Control is achieved by environmental and biological monitoring and health education. The division has a laboratory with technicians trained in industrial hygiene. This laboratory has been designated as a collaborating laboratory on air pollution by the World Health Organisation.
The measurement of many concentrations in the air, such as chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, solvents, silica dust and sulphur dioxide, and the investigation of standards of thermal comfort, ventilation, noise, and lighting form a major part of the routine duties of the division. Medical examinations are also under- taken, including X-rays and pathological investigations, of workers exposed to risks of lead, radiation, fluoride toxicity or silica dust.
Under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, the division has responsibilities for the clinical examination, case work, and medical assessment of injured workers. This important service operates prin- cipally from the casualty departments of the Queen Mary Hospital, the Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Kwong Wah Hospital, although many visits to homes and work- places are made by the health visitors of the division. The Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Bill 1971 which would require em- ployers to meet the cost of prostheses and surgical appliances was presented to the Legislative Council at the end of the year and became law on December 3.
The Air Pollution Control Unit operates under the guidance of the Smoke Abatement Adviser. Seven assistant smoke inspectors, although still under training, are carrying out its field work. There are now 35 monitoring stations. By the end of the year two sets of regulations were in an advanced stage of preparation. These were the Clean Air (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations and the Clean Air (Restriction and Measure- ment of Smoke Emission) Regulations.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING
In March 1971, after five years investigation, the Industrial Train- ing Advisory Committee (ITAC) completed its final report. This was published in November and is under consideration by the Govern- ment. The ITAC which has operated through a complex of com- mittees, has drawn up a comprehensive picture of the industrial