119. Environmental surveys include measurement of silica dust in quarries, and of concentrations in the air of, among many, load, man- ganese, solvents, and sulpur dioxide. These surveys also investigate standards of thermal comfort, ventilation, noise and lighting.
120. Industrial health officers also act as advisers to commercial undertakings and other government departments on occupational health matters. They examine government divers annually to safeguard their health.
121. A total of 47,685 occupational injuries was recorded by indus- trial health visitors and nurses of the Industrial Health Division. Of these. 29,639 were accidents which caused the injured person to be off work for more than three days, and were therefore reportable under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. A total of 296 occupational deaths was recorded. It was found on investigation that 25 occurred among seamen recruited in Hong Kong, and 61 were due to natural
cauacs.
122. Industrial health officers took part in medical boards to assess the degree of disability of 8.117 injured workers. Health visitors and ourses carried out case work, visiting homes and places of work as well as attending at the casualty sections of major hospitals.
123. Monitoring of air pollutants continued throughout the year. The results from the four daily stations were shown along with the Huey plate figures for the 33 monthly stations-13 on Hong Kong Island, 13 in Kowloon and 7 in the New Territories. The Advisory Committee on Air Pollution continued to meet regularly once every two months. During the year, the staff of the Air Pollution Control Unit was increased to ten inspectors. The Clean Air (Furnace, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations 1972 took effect on 15th December, 1972.
124. The industrial health laboratory is now designated by the World Health Organization as a collaborating laboratory. It takes part in international studies on air pollution in conjunction with other national laboratories throughout the world.
HEALTH EDUCATION
125. A better community appreciation of the basic principles of personal and environmental hygiene, and the prevention of disease,
32
continued to be the main health objective. A wide field was covered by many branches of the department, and the co-operation of all voluntary agencies interested in such topics was actively sought.
126. In December 1972, the department participated in the Agricul- tural Show at Sek Kong with displays on various aspects of preventive medicine. In addition, the health education unit in the New Territories organized a number of local health exhibitions in rural towns. Exhibits included displays on personal and environmental hygiene, prevention of diseases, prevention of home accidents, maternal and child health and nutrition.
IV. WORK OF THE MEDICAL DIVISION
127. At the end of 1972, a total of 15,993 beds was available in all hospitals in Hong Kong, excluding those maintained by the armed forces. In addition, there were 740 beds in government maternity homes, and beds in private maternity and nursing homes. The total 16,733 beds represented a ratio of 4.1 beds per 1,000 of the popula- tion. The figures are based on the normal bed capacities of hospitals. but in some cases, the actual bed occupancy was much bigher, since camp beds and other additional beds were used whenever the need arose. Development over the recent past is illustrated in Figure 11, and it will be noted that the bed provision in 1972 represented an increase of 67 per cent over the bed provision in 1962.
KE OF HATAL MESE IN LIN
碧
M
-
LA
E
FIGURE 1t
HOSPITAL BEDS 1963–72
ITAL
KOT KİWEMONT
+
LT
I
1
YELA
39
HE
1