SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1980
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MORE FIRE PREVENTION CHECKS MADE LAST YEAR
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THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU CARRIED OUT 289 780 INSPECTIONS LAST YEAR, ABOUT 10 PER CENT MORE THAN THE RECORD SET IN 1978.
AS A RESULT, A TOTAL OF 10 316 FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES WERE ISSUED AND 3 622 PROSECUTIONS TAKEN OUT WITH FINES AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION IMPOSED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTED FOR 68 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL INSPECTIONS WITH 162 684 RELATING TO MEANS OF ESCAPE AND 34 922 CONCERNING OTHER HAZARDS.
IN ADDITION, STAFF OF THE BUREAU PAID 13 431 REGULAR VISITS TO BUILDINGS TO ENSURE THAT CORRIDORS AND EXITS WERE FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION.
DURING THE YEAR, THE BUREAU CONDUCTED 45 921 INSPECTIONS OF FACTORIES AND INDÚSTRIAL PREMISES AND 4 994 CHECKS ON VENTILATION SYSTEMS.
ANOTHER 12 700 VISITS WERE MADE TO RESTAURANTS, NIGHTCLUBS, SCHOOLS, CINEMAS, MATSHEDS, DANCE HALLS, BILLIARD ROOMS AND TIMBER YARDS,
CHECKS ON PREMISES USED FOR MANUFACTURE AND STORAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS NUMBERED 6 656, AND 3 018 OTHERS WERE MADE ON VEHICLES USED FOR CONVEYING COMPRESSED GAS AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUID.
IN ADDITION ABOUT 3 000 INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT ON FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS AND NEON SIGNS, AND 477 OTHERS ON CHILD CARE CENTRES.
THE BUREAU ALSO FINALISED B 986 NEW BUILDING PLANS IN RESPECT OF ESCAPE MEANS AND FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS AND ISSUED OR RENEWED 3 746 DANGEROUS GOODS AND TIMBER YARD LICENCES.
STAFF OF THE BUREAU ALSO INVESTIGATED 93 FIRES AND CONDUCTED 255 LECTURES AND EXHIBITIONS ON FIRE PREVENTION FOR STUDENTS, STAFF OF PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
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