WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1977
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CONTROL ON CARTRIDGE-OPERATED FIXING TOOLS
EFFECTIVE FROM JULY 1 ******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS TO CONTROL THE USE OF CARTRIDGE-OPERATED FIXING TOOLS.
THE REGULATIONS WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR.
MOVING THE MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CARTRIDGE-OPERATED FIXING TOOLS) REGULATIONS 1977, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. FAN PRICE, SAID THAT CARTRIDGE-OPERATED FIXING TOOLS WERE WIDELY USED AS AN EASY METHOD OF FASTENING ATTACHMENTS TO WALLS AND CEILINGS, AND PROVIDED A SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO DRILLING.
+THEY ARE MAINLY USED IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND IN THE INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONERS AND ELECTRICAL FIXTURES,+ HE SAID.
+SINCE 1973, + MR. PRICE CONTINUED, THERE HAVE BEEN 41 REPORTED ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING FOUR FATAL ONES, ARISING FROM THE USE OF CARTRIDGE-OPERATED FIXING TOOLS.
+THESE ACCIDENTS OCCURRED MAINLY BECAUSE THE OPERATORS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED AND THEREFORE DID NOT APPRECIATE THE POSSIBLE HAZARDS ARISING FROM THE INCORRECT USE OF THIS TYPE OF TOOL.
+SO, IT WAS DECIDED TO DRAFT A SET OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO CONTROL THEIR USE,+ MR. PRICE SAID.
MR. PRICE SUMMARISED THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS AS FOLLOWS:
* ONLY TOOLS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR
AND SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE REGULATIONS MAY BE USED IN AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING-
*
AN OPERATOR OF A TOOL MUST NOT BE UNDER 18 YEARS-OLD, AND MUST HOLD A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY IN A FORM APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR- AND MUST NOT USE A TOOL WHEN HE DISCOVERS A FAULT OR DEFECT, BUT MUST REPORT IT TO THE PERSON EMPLOYING HIM-
* ONLY CARTRIDGES WHICH MEET THE MANUFACTURERS'
SPECIFICATIONS MAY BE USED WITH A PARTICULAR TOOL-
*
*
A SUITABLE STRONG TOOL BOX, WITH MEANS FOR LOCKING, MUST BE PROVIDED FOR A TOOL WHEN IT IS NOT REQUIRED= AND THAT THE TOOL BOX MUST CONTAIN A COPY OF THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE GIVING INFORMATION ON THE CARE AND OPERATION OF THE TOOL-
THE TOOL MUST BE USED IN A PLACE WHICH IS SUITABLY LIT AND SAFE AND WHERE THERE IS NO FLAMMABLE VAPOUR- AND
/ A PROPRIETOR
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