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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1976
NEW REGULATIONS ON SPRAYING OF
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
******
NEW REGULATIONS TO CONTROL THE SPRAYING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS IN WORK PLACES WILL COME INTO FORCE ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR.
IN MOVING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (SPRAYING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS) REGULATIONS 1976 TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, SAID THE CONTROLS SET OUT IN THEM WOULD HELP PROVIDE A SAFER WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE WORKERS.
HE SAID THAT THE REGULATIONS COVERED NOT ONLY THE SPRAYING OF PAINT BUT ALSO THE SPRAYING OF OTHER FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS SUCH AS THINNERS, VARNISHES, LACQUERS, SEALING COMPOUNDS AND PETROLEUM BASED ADHESIVES.
MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT THE RAPID VAPOURISATION OF A FLAMMABLE LIQUID IN THE SPRAYING PROCESS COULD CREATE A CONCENTRA- TION OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE WHICH WAS POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE.
MR. PRICE SAID THAT UNCONTROLLED SPRAYING OF SUCH LIQUIDS CAUSED ABOUT 300 ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EXPLOSIONS OR FIRES DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TWENTY-TWO OF THEM WERE FATAL.
+ IN ADDITION, THERE WERE FIVE LARGE FIRES RESULTING FROM SPRAYING OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS DURING THE LAST FIVE MONTHS OF 1975, + HE SAID,
MR. PRICE SAID CONTROLS INCLUDED 1
* THE SEGREGATION OF THE SPRAYING AREA FROM OTHER PARTS
OF AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING=
* THE PROVISION OF AN EFFICIENT VENTILATION SYSTEM TO
REDUCE THE CONCENTRATION OF FLAMMABLE VAPOURS IN THE SPRAYING AREA-.
* THE PROHIBITION OF SMOKING OR THE USE OF A NAKED
FLAME WITHIN 20 FEET OF ANY SPRAYING AREA- AND
* THE IMPOSITION OF STANDARDS OF ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT TO AVOID SPARKS IGNITING A FLAMMABLE ATMOSPHERE.
THERE WERE ALSO PROVISIONS GOVERNING CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS COULD BE STORED.
MR. PRICE SAID THE PRINCIPLES OF THESE REGULATIONS WERE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND WERE SUPPORTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES. HE HAD ALSO CONSULTED WITH THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES.
AN EXPLANATORY BOOKLET WILL SOON BE MADE AVAILABLE FREE TO AFFECTED PROPRIETORS TO ASSIST THEM TO MEET THEIR NEW OBLIGATIONS.
THEY COULD ALSO SEEK ADVICE FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE, HE SAID.
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