WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1979
CALL FOR SAFETY-CONSCIOUS SUPERVISION AT CONSTRUCTION SITES
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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IT WAS VITAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE SAFETY-CONSCIOUS SUPERVISION BY CONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS AND THEIR STAFF IN HELPING TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES.
HE SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF FACTORY INSPECTORS FOR SITE INSPECTION DURING THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION.
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THIS MAY BE AN IMPROVEMENT IT IS OF ITSELF ONLY A PART OF WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BETTER SAFETY STANDARDS.+
+INSPECTION BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE CANNOT MAINTAIN A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE ON THE SITES, HE ADDED.
MR. HENDERSON WAS REPLYING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE HON. ANDREW SO WHO ASKED WHETHER OR NOT GOVERNMENT WOULD CARRY OUT MORE INSPECTIONS OF THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CRANES AND OTHER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND TAKE ALL REASONABLE MEASURES INCLUDING PROSECUTIONS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS ARISING FROM NEGLIGENCE.
MR. HENDERSON ALSO SAID THAT AT PRESENT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS A STAFF OF 15 INSPECTORS TO INSPECT CONSTRUCTION SITES TO ENSURE THAT BUILDING CONTRACTORS WERE AWARE OF AND FULFIL THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
THESE REGULATIONS COVERED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CRANES AND PLACED THE RESPONSIBILITY ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTORS FOR ENSURING THAT SUCH EQUIPMENT WAS MAINTAINED IN SAFE WORKING ORDER AND WAS OPERATED ONLY BY TRAINED AND COMPETENT PERSONS.
HE REPORTED THAT IN 1977 LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTORS MADE 4,626 INSPECTIONS OF CONSTRUCTION SITES AND 5,750 IN 1978.
ON AVERAGE THIS MEANT BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR VISITS TO EACH SITE EACH YEAR, ALTHOUGH IN PRACTICE MORE INSPECTIONS WERE MADE TO THE LARGER OR MORE HAZARDOUS SITES THAN TO THE OTHERS.
ON PROSECUTIONS, MR. HENDERSON SAID 144 SUMMONSES UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS WERE HEARD IN THE MAGISTRACIES DURING 1977 OF WHICH 13 INVOLVED LIFTING APPLIANCES AND FINES TOTALLING $159,150 WERE IMPOSED.
DURING 1978, 385 SUCH CASES INCLUDING 66 INVOLVING LIFTING APPLIANCES, WERE HEARD AND FINES TOTALLING $231,850 WERE IMPOSED.
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