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EMPLOYMENT
industry-based safety sub-committees to be formed under the Labour Advisory Board Committee on Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention. Sub-committees for the construction industry and the textile industry were established in 1980 and 1981 respectively, These safety sub-committees bring together representatives of employers, workers and the Labour Department to promote work safety in various industries.
The factory inspectorate, with the Government Information Services, continued to expand its publicity programme for the promotion of industrial safety through extensive use of the media and other means. Safety Extravaganza, an audio-visual presentation on industrial safety, was attended by over 30 000 people at the Hong Kong Polytechnic in February. Subsequently, the show was staged in Wong Chuk Hang, Tsuen Wan and Wong Tai Sin as a joint safety promotion activity with the district boards. The Labour Advisory Board Committee on Industrial Safety and Accident Prevention held an industrial safety seminar for senior management in September and another for workers in November. A safety seminar was organised by the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry safety sub-committee for workers in the two industries.
Throughout the year, the Industrial Safety Training Centre of the Factory Inspectorate provided safety training courses for workers from various industries and technical students. In conjunction with the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the centre organised for the fourth year an evening course leading to a certificate of proficiency in industrial safety. A variety of machine guards, models depicting safe working practices on construction sites and various types of personal protective equipment were on display at the centre.
Pressure Equipment
The Pressure Equipment Unit of the Labour Department enforces the requirements of the Boilers and Pressure Receivers Ordinance and the Gasholders Examination Ordinance ensuring the safe use and operation of all equipment covered by the ordinances. This includes steam boilers, compressed air receivers, and gasholders for storage of Town Gas. The unit also gives industry, the fire services and other government departments technical advice on matters relating to pressure equipment, especially those governed by the Dangerous Goods Ordinance.
The unit conducts examinations of boiler attendants for the issue of certificates of competency. Initial design, scrutiny and physical inspection of pressure equipment under the Boilers and Pressure Receivers Ordinance is carried out by engineers in the private sector, although their suitability for appointment is assessed by the unit. At the end of the year, there were 45 appointed examiners under the ordinance.
Occupational Health and Hygiene
The Occupational Health Division (formerly known as the Industrial Health Division) of the Labour Department provides an advisory service to government and industry on matters concerning the health of workers, the hygiene of the workplace and occupational health standards and practice. The aim of occupational health is to maintain and improve the physical and mental well-being of workers, to protect them against any health hazard arising from their employment and to help in their adjustment to their tasks.
A prime responsibility of the division is to investigate notified occupational diseases and potential health hazards reported by the factory inspectorate and to determine preventive action. Surveys and monitoring of processes involving possible physical, chemical or biological hazards are also undertaken. The medical examination of personnel exposed to ionizing radiation, government divers and compressed air workers aims at