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MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1977
OPENING OF MACHINERY GUARDING EXHIBITION
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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS TO STAGE A LARGE SCALE EXHIBITION TO SHOW FACTORY PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS HOW TO GUARD AGAINST DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORKING OF MACHINERY.
THE 10-DAY EXHIBITION AT THE SOUTHERN CONCOURSE OF THE KOWLOON RAIL TERMINUS, HUNG HOM, HIGHLIGHTS THE NEW FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS WHICH WILL COME INTO FORCE ON APRIL 1.
IT WILL BE OPENED BY DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, ON FRIDAY (MARCH 11).
THE EXHIBITION WILL FEATURE A WIDE RANGE OF MACHINE GUARDS AND SAFE OPERATING METHODS. THERE WILL BE WORK ING MODELS, DEMONSTRATIONS, FILMS AND SLIDE SHOWS.
COMMENTING ON THE STAGING OF THE EXHIBITION, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. DAVID LIN, SAID THERE HAD BEEN A GROWING CONCERN WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE INCREASINGLY HEAVY TOLL OF ACCIDENTS AT WORK IN HONG KONG.
HE SAID: IN 1976, 12 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND NEARLY 10,000 WERE INJURED BY POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY ALONE.
+BECAUSE OF THE USE OF UNGUARDED OR INADEQUATELY GUARDED MACHINES WE LOSE ON AVERAGE THE LIFE OF ONE WORKER EVERY MONTH IN ADDITION TO 27 WORKERS BEING INJURED EVERY DAY.
+ IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THESE APPALLING FIGURES, GOVERNMENT ENACTED THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS LAST AUGUST TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE WORKING AT AND OPERATING MACHINES OR PLANTS.
+I CANNOT OVER EMPHASISE THE DANGERS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORKING WITH UNGUARDED OR INADEQUATELY GUARDED MACHINERY, THESE MACHINES CAN MAIM OR EVEN KILL,+ HE SAID.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 A. M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY, EXCEPT ON THE FIRST DAY WHEN IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 5 P.M. TO 7 P.M. ADMISSION IS FREE.
INVITATION LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATIONS, TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, WORKERS UNIONS AS WELL AS TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOLS.
DURING THE EXHIBITION, OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON HAND TO OFFER INFORMATION AND ADVICE ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF MACHINERY GUARDING AND A SPECIALLY PRODUCED HANDBOOK ON THE GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY WILL BE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE.
SPECIAL GUIDED TOURS OF THE EXHIBITION CAN ALSO BE ARRANGED FOR WORKER GROUPS BY REQUEST MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE (TÉL. NO. 3-689458).
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