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Pressure Equipment
EMPLOYMENT
The Boilers and Pressure Receivers Ordinance governs the use of steam boilers and compressed air containers and is administered by the Pressure Equipment Unit of the Labour Department. The unit also provides technical advice to the government and industry on matters relating to pressure equipment. The initial design scrutiny and physical inspection of pressure equipment is, however, carried out by engineers in the private sector. At the end of the year, about 50 engineers were Appointed Examiners under the ordinance.
In March, the unit was given the additional responsibility of enforcing the Gasholders Examination Ordinance and Regulations which provide controls over the large containers used for storing town gas.
Industrial Health and Hygiene
The Industrial Health Division of the Labour Department, comprising the Industrial Health Unit and the Industrial Hygiene Unit, provides an advisory service to the govern- ment and industry on matters relating to the health of workers.
The division is primarily concerned with preventing occupational diseases and protecting workers against physical, chemical and biological hazards in their working environment. Control is achieved by environmental and biological investigations and through monitoring, medical examinations and health education.
The Industrial Health Unit investigates occupational health hazards. It undertakes medical and pathological examinations of workers exposed to lead, fluoride, ionising radiation and other occupational health hazards, and of government employees engaged in compressed air work or diving.
The responsibility for the medical examination and assessment of injured workers rests with medically-qualified industrial health officers. Visits to the homes and work places of injured workers are made by health visitors and nurses.
The Industrial Hygiene Unit is concerned with protecting workers against environmental conditions which may adversely affect their health. The unit carries out field surveys to evaluate the working environment of industrial undertakings and recommends measures to reduce industrial health hazards. It also investigates complaints about adverse working conditions and injuries caused by chemicals; thermal discomfort; inadequate ventilation; noise and lighting; and airborne contaminants.
The laboratory of the Industrial Health Division is responsible for the biological monitoring of workers, such as those handling fluoride and lead. It conducts analyses of samples taken for the purposes of environmental monitoring and is also responsible for the air pollution monitoring programme in Hong Kong.
Employees' Compensation
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The Employees' Compensation Division of the Labour Department administers the Employees' Compensation Ordinance - which was re-titled from the Workmen's Compensa- tion Ordinance on November 1 and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The division ensures that injured employees and dependants of deceased employees covered by the Employees' Compensation Ordinance obtain from their employers, without undue delay, compensation in respect of injuries or death caused by accidents or occupational diseases arising out of, and in the course of, employment. It also ensures that people covered by the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance obtain compensation as soon as possible from a special fund.