Wednesday, October 16, 1974
19
The promotion of industrial safety still requires
further urgent attention. Safety regulations made during the
last two years have covered the more dangerous industrial
activities including construction work, the use of lifting
appliances and lifting gear and work in confined spaces.
Further regulations will soon be introduced to oover cargo
handling at wharves, quays and godowns. Others are projected
for a variety of specialised industrial processes but the only ́
major area on which a good deal of work remains to be done
is that of guarding machinery. Of course improved industrial
safety cannot be achieved solely by the enactment of special
F
regulations. The co-operation of employers and workers is
essential and steps are being taken to encourage their involvement
through a Five Year programme of action including the extension
of safety training and increased publicity.
!
And now a word about the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance
which, like the Employment Ordinance, is kept under constant
review. Recent amendments have raised the maximum wage ceiling
for entitlement of non-manual workers under these two ordinances
from $1500 to $2000 per month. At the same time the maximum
amounts that can be claimed in workmen's compensation were
correspondingly increased by 30%. The Workmen's Compensation
Ordinance is due for a major overhaul over the next two years
but one other matter deserves mention. This is silicosis, one
of the most serious occupational diseases occurring in Hong
Kong, which has never been included in the schedule to the
/ordinance because