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University of Hong Kong and students in post-secondary institutions. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the centre continued to organise two evening courses leading to the award of a Post-experience Certificate in Industrial Safety, and one evening course leading to the award of a Post-experience Certificate in Advanced Industrial Safety. The Factory Inspectorate also assisted the Construction Industry Training Authority in running training courses for safety officers.
The inspectorate, in conjunction with the Information Services Department, continued its publicity programme for the promotion of industrial safety and health through the mass media and other means. A large-scale symposium on safety and health management in the construction industry was held in November. An industrial safety exhibition was held in January to publicise employers' and employees' general duties for safety and health at work. To assist in the publicity and promotional work, the inspectorate also published guidance materials and produced pictorial leaflets.
In the second half of the year, a Housing Authority Site Safety Campaign was organised jointly with the Housing Department, Hong Kong Construction Association Limited and Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union to promote safety and health on construction sites of the Hong Kong Housing Authority.
The Pressure Equipment Division of the Labour Department administers the Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance and the Gasholders Examination Ordinance to ensure the safe use and operation of all equipment covered by the two ordinances.
The Boilers and Pressure Vessels Ordinance stipulates that boilers including thermal oil heaters, steam receivers, steam containers, air receivers and pressurised cement tanks mounted on trucks or trailers must be approved and registered with the division and must be examined periodically by qualified engineers. The division monitors the operation of pressure equipment through spot checks to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and investigates accidents involving pressure equipment.
Under the Gasholders Examination Ordinance, the division approves the design of gasholders and carries out inspection during fabrication and repairs, and subsequently conducts annual inspections.
Occupational Health and Hygiene
The Occupational Health Division of the Labour Department maintains and improves the physical and mental well-being of workers and protects them against health hazards arising from employment. It provides an advisory service to government and the public on matters concerning the health of workers and the hygiene of the workplace, and complements the Factory Inspectorate Division in supervising health standards and practices in industry.
During the year, the division took part in a number of seminars and exhibitions to promote occupational health. It published a series of booklets and codes of practice on the prevention of occupational diseases. Occupational health promotion and education activities were carried out by nursing officers to alert employers and employees to occupational hazards in the workplace.
A major 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 were conducted in various industries and a number of epidemiological studies on health and hygiene conditions have been completed. Programmes to monitor various chemicals, dusts and other occupational health hazards were also carried out.