EMPLOYMENT
The division carries out medical examinations of personnel exposed to ionising radiation, users of compressed-air breathing apparatus, and government employees working in compressed air or engaged in diving or pest control. It also deals with cases of silicosis under the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The division's registered nurses handle medical clearance for employees' compensation cases and its occupational health officers are appointed as members of Special Assessment Boards and Prostheses and Surgical Appliance Boards under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance.
The division's laboratory, which is a member of the Hong Kong Laboratory Ac- creditation Scheme, continued to carry out analytical tests on biological samples collected from workers and on other environmental samples taken during site visits.
Occupational Safety and Health Council
The Occupation Safety and Health Council, established by statute in 1988, comprises 20 members appointed by the Governor and drawn from employers and employees, academic and professional fields, and the government. It is financed by a levy on all employees' compensation insurance premiums.
The council aims to promote a safer and healthier working environment through education and training, promotion of the use of modern technology, dissemination of technical knowledge, provision of consultancy services, and encouragement of co- operation and communication among government and non-government bodies having such common goals.
Under the council there are five functional committees which deal with publicity, staffing, finance, research and general matters, and eight industry-based committees covering the construction, textiles, plastics, shipbuilding and shiprepairing, metalware, electronics, catering, transport and physical distribution industries.
During the year, the council organised a variety of promotional and publicity activities and events. A major event was the Occupational Safety and Health Week staged between October 26 and November 1. Other activities included training courses for safety and health supervisors, certificate of competence programmes on ionising radiation protection and safe handling of asbestos. It also produced safety and health literature, codes of practice and guidebooks, Green Cross (the council's bi-monthly magazine), safety advice pamphlets, bulletins for individual industries and posters. The council's library, housing a collection of safety and health journals and technical reference books, is open for public use. The council's occupational safety and health employees' participation scheme offers financial assistance to employees' organisations running safety and health activities. During the year, 16 employees' organisations received financial subsidy under the scheme.
Employees' Compensation
The Labour Department administers the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance. The department ensures that injured em- ployees and dependants of deceased employees covered by the Employees' Compensation Ordinance obtain compensation from their employers in respect of injuries or deaths caused by accidents arising out of and in the course of employment, or by occupational diseases. It also ensures that persons covered by the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance obtain compensation as soon as possible from the Pneumoconiosis Compensa- tion Fund which is financed by a levy imposed on the construction and quarry industries.
URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES
REFERENCE LIBRARY
115