3.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1975
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION OPENED BY FIRE CHIEF
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TOP MANAGEMENTS SHOULD PERSONALLY INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN
A DETERMINED AND SUSTAINED EFFORT TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES AND PROPERTY FROM FIRE IN THEIR OWN INTEREST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE'S.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. FRED WATSON, WHEN OPENING A FIVE-DAY FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL.
MR. WATSON SAID THAT OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF FACTORIES HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPONSIBILITY IN SEEING THAT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE HAS BEEN DONE TO MINIMISE THE CHANCES OF FIRE OCCURRING IN THEIR PREMISES AND THAT, IF FIRE DOES OCCUR, HARM TO PERSONS AND MATERIAL DAMAGE IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM. + IT IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE REGARDED AS BOTHERSOME AND OF LITTLE IMPORTANCE AND WHICH CAN BE DELEGATED TO SOME JUNIOR EMPLOYEE,+ MR. WATSON EMPHASISED.
MR. WATSON SAID THAT, LIKE OTHER FIRES, MOST OF THOSE IN INDUSTRY COULD BE AVOIDED BY COMMON SENSE AND BY FOLLOWING GOOD HOUSEKEEPING RULES.
+EXCEPT IN A FEW EXCEPTIONAL CASES,+ HE STATED, +FIRE CAN ONLY OCCUR WHEN A SOURCE OF IGNITION COMES INTO CONTACT WITH MATERIAL WHICH WILL BURN, AND THIS MAY BE EITHER SOLID, LIQUID, GAS OR VAPOUR.
+IF SOURCES OF IGNITION WERE STRICTLY CONTROLLED AND REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND INSPECTED, THE DANGER OF FIRE OCCURRING WOULD BE LESSENED.+
MR. WATSON SAID REDUCING THE CHANCES OF FIRE SIMPLY INVOLVED KEEPING PREMISES CLEAR OF RUBBISH AND MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY IN A RELIABLE AND CLEAN CONDITION.
+A THOROUGH CHECK OF ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING SHOULD BE MADE FROM TIME TO TIME AND NOT JUST LEFT UNTIL IT BREAKS DOWN AND CAUSES A FIRE,+'HE DECLARED. OBSERVATION OF WORK METHODS SOMETIMES REVEALED BAD AND DANGEROUS PRACTICES ADOPTED OVER MONTHS AND YEARS BY EMPLOYEES WITHOUT THINKING OF THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES.
+FROM TIME TO TIME, MANAGEMENT SHOULD STAND BACK AND TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK AT THE WHOLE OF THEIR FACTORY AND CONSIDER THE CHANGES WHICH ALMOST CERTAINLY WILL HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE YEARS, POSSIBLY IN PRODUCTION METHODS OR IN STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS, + MR. WATSON SUGGESTED, +BECAUSE OF THESE CHANGES, HE CONTINUED, +FIRE PROTECTION STANDARDS WHICH ORIGINALLY APPLIED MAY HAVE BEEN REDUCED AND REQUIRE TO BE REVIEWED.+
THE CONSEQUENCES