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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1975
ELECTRICITY CAN BE AN INVISIBLE DANGER
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ELECTRICITY CAN BE A HIDDEN OR INVISIBLE MENACE IF NOT HANDLED WITH CARE.
THIS IS THE MESSAGE THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AIMS TO PUT ACROSS TO PEOPLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THROUGH A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY EXHIBITIONS STAGED ON BOARD A MOBILE VAN AT CONSTRUCTION SITES.
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OPENING THE FIRST OF THESE EXHIBITIONS TODAY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, MR. HO SAI-CHU, SAID THAT THE TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICITY WAS THAT IT COULD NOT BE SEEN BUT IT COULD BE FELT.
+AND WHEN IT IS FELT, IT IS ALWAYS TOO LATE TO REGRET. THIS INVISIBLE DANGER IS PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITES WHERE DARK CORNERS, WET SPOTS, AND CRAMPED AREAS ARE COMMON, HE SAID,
MR. HO POINTED OUT THAT IN 1974, 50 PER CENT OF THE FATAL AND 30 PER CENT OF THE NON-FATAL ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS REPORTED TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OCCURRED IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY,
+THIS INDEED IS A SAD PICTURE AND IT DEMANDS GREAT ATTENTION AND EFFORT FROM EVERYONE INVOLVED TO REDUCE SUCH ACCIDENTS.+
BECAUSE OF THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF MANY OF THE WORKS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, HE SAID ELECTRICIANS OR FITTERS TENDED TO USE HOME-MADE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND SUB- STANDARD INSTALLATIONS AND FITTINGS THAT MIGHT COME HANDY. +THIS IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS.+
MR. HO WENT ON TO SAY THAT QUITE OFTEN MANAGEMENTS WERE INCLINED TO THINK THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION RESTED SOLELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
+MAY I POINT OUT HERE THAT THIS THINKING IS UNFAIR AND COULD ONLY LEAD TO MISCONCEPTION. SAFETY IS IN FACT EVERYONE'S BUSINESS. THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REQUIRES WHOLE- HEARTED SUPPORT FOR WORKERS AND MANAGEMENTS ALIKE.
+ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION, I WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE EXHIBITIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS OFFERED BY THESE SAFETY EXHIBITIONS AND APPLY THE ACCIDENT PREVENTION TECHNIQUE SO LEARNT TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHER FELLOW WORKERS.+
+/HE ALSO