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THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1974
INDUSTRIALISTS TAKEN TO TASK
FOR FAILING TO TAKE ADEQUATE ACCIDENT PREVENTION MEASURES
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING OFFICER, MR. NICK CARTER, TODAY CRITICIZED HONG KONG FACTORY OUNERS FOR NOT APPOINTING SAFETY OFFICERS TO ORGANISE ACCIDENT PREVENTION IN THEIR FIRMS.
HE SAID THAT IN HONG KONG, WHICH HAD AN INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE OF MORE THAN 600,000, LESS THAN HALF A DOZEN FINNS EMPLOYED FULL- TIME SAFETY OFFICERS.
+THIS IS A SCANDALOUS SITUATION IN AN INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY WHERE LAST YEAR 136 PEOPLE VORE KILLED AND 21,052 INJURED AT WORK, HE SAID.
+THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, WHICH HAS THE HIGHEST ACCIDENT RATE PER THOUSAND WORKERS, VAS LAST YEAR RESPONSIBLE FOR 61 DEATHS AND 4,976 INJURIES. YET AS FAR AS I AN AVARE, IT DOES NOT EVEN EMPLOY ONE FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICER.+
MR. CARTER WAS SPEAKING TO BUSINESSMEN AND FACTORY OWNERS AT TODAY'S LUNCHEON REETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB CHONG KONG ISLAND SOUTH).
HE SAID THAT EXPERIENCE BOTH IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS HAD SHOUN THAT THE EMPLOYMENT OF FULL-TIME SAFETY STAFF PAID DIVIDENDS IN BOTH THE AND HONEY.
IN A
MR. CARTER SAID THAT IN A MEDIUM-SIZED FACTORY, THE SAFETY OFFICER'S DUTIES COULD COVER SECURITY, VELFARE AND PERSONNEL MATTERS AS WELL AS ACCIDENT AND FIRE PREVENTION. LARGER COMPANY, HE WOULD SPECIALISE IN ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND GENERAL SAFETY ONLY.
MR. CARTER POINTED OUT THAT EVEN SHALL FACTORIES COULD BENEFIT FROM THE LODUCED ACCIDENT TOLL, IMPROVED PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY AND FINANCIAL SAVINGS WHICH RESULTED FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF A FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICER.
THOUGH THE FACTORY MIGHT BE TOO SMALL TO AFFORD A FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICER BY ITSELF, IT COULD BAID TOCETHER WITH OTHER SMALL FACTORIES TO ENFLOY A FULL-TIME OFFICER.
STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF PICKING THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE J03, IR. CARTER SAID THAT AS WELL AS BEING A MAN OF ENERGY, INTELLICENCE AND STRONG PERSONALITY, WITH A GOOD EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, THE SAFETY OFFICER SHOULD BE PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED IN ACCIDENT PREVENTION TECHNIQUES.
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