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Regulation 7B of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations became effective in March. It requires the installation of automatic safe load indicators on cranes having a maximum safe load of more than one
tonne.
The Construction Sites (Safety) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 1994 came into opera- tion in June. The regulation restricts the employment of young persons below the age of 18 years on construction sites, unless they have received proper training.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Safety Officers and Safety Supervisors) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 1994 was enacted in June. It requires a proprietor to employ a safety officer if he employs 100 or more employees in one or more of his construction sites or in a shipyard, and to employ a safety supervisor in any of his shipyards with 20 or more employees.
The Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Suspended Working Platforms) Regulation was also enacted in late June. It establishes the safety standards applicable to the operation of suspended working platforms.
The Factory Inspectorate placed much emphasis on regulatory activities in the high-risk areas of factories, catering establishments and construction sites. Special enforcement campaigns were launched to cover machinery safety, fire prevention and safety on construction sites including those of the airport core projects. During these campaigns, 23 166 factories, 318 catering establishments and 1 295 construction sites were inspected. The Industrial Safety Training Centre conducted courses for workers, supervisors and managers from various industries. Special talks were arranged with the Education Department as part of the summer job safety promotional activities. The centre also gave safety talks to university and post-secondary students and to various other organisations. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the centre continued to organise evening courses leading to the award of certificates in industrial safety. It also assisted the Construction Industry Training Authority in running certificate courses for construction safety officers. In 1994, similar assistance was extended to the City University of Hong Kong to help train more qualified safety personnel to meet the increasing needs of the industry.
The inspectorate, in conjunction with the Information Services Department, launched a major publicity campaign in July to promote industrial safety and health. Seven television and radio announcements of public interest were produced. Posters and stickers were also printed. In addition, five large-scale symposia were held on safety and health management, the safe use of heavy machinery and electricity in construction sites and boiler safety, together with an award scheme for safety officers.
The inspectorate has established a special enforcement team to inspect construction sites of the airport core programme and to ensure marine work safety in a joint effort with the Marine Department. The inspectorate took part in the multi-level safety committee meetings to help contractors formulate safety policies, review safety standards and procedures, and monitor safety performance at site level. It also assisted in organising seminars.
Construction site safety award schemes for the construction industry and the airport core programme were jointly organised by the Labour Department, Housing Department, Marine Department, New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, Provisional Airport
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