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Wednesday, November 28, 1973
NEW MEASURES TO EASE SHORTAGE OF "FIRST AIDERS"
The Legislative Council today voted in favour of new measures
aimed at bringing quick relief to the shortage of trained first aid
personnel in Hong Kong industry.
In putting forward new regulations made by the Commissioner of
Labour on November 2, the Secretary for Social Services, Mr. F.K. Li,
pointed out that the number of "first aiders" in industry was now more
than 30 per cent below strength, and the situation would get much worse
in May next year when laws would come into force requiring first-aiders
on building sites.
The new regulations give the Commissioner of Labour the power
to recognise a wider range of qualifications for first aid personnel,
making it easier for industry to recruit the trained workers needed.
The regulations also enable the Commissioner of Labour to give
recognition to persons who are trained in first aid by the Auxiliary
Medical Service, the Civil Aid Services and other such bodies.
Formerly the definition "first aiders" only referred to those
who were either registered nurses or trained by the St. John's Ambulance
Association.
The Secretary for Social Services, Mr. F.K. Li, told the Legislative
Council today that the regulations made provision for first aid facilities
in registable workplaces, and required that the first aid boxes be in the
control of a team of responsible persons, including at least one trained
person for every 100 workers.
The total