TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1980
LAST YEAR, HE POINTED OUT, THERE WERE 45 991 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING 163 DEATHS.
THE TOTAL LOSS FROM INDUSTRIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS ACCOUNTED FOR 547 953 MAN-DAYS AND AN AMOUNT OF $35 292 064 PAID OUT AS WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION,
THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WAS ENDEAVOURING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION BY ENFORCING LEGISLATION, PROVIDING TRAINING ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THROUGH PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS, MR CHAN STRESSED.
LAST YEAR, THE INSPECTORATE MADE 42 635 VISITS INCLUDING FACTORY INSPECTIONS AND ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 3 397 CASES WERE HEARD IN THE COURTS FOR INFRINGEMENT ON SAFETY LAWS, RESULTING IN FINES TOTALLING $2 517 945.
IN THE SAME YEAR, THE INSPECTORATE'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE OFFERED, FREE OF CHARGE, 180 SAFETY COURSES FOR 6 200 PEOPLE.
AT THE SAME TIME, NO EFFORTS WERE SPARED IN HAMMERING HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF INDÚSTRIAL SAFETY THROUGH PUBLICITY IN THE MASS MEDIA AND BY HOLDING EXHIBITIONS, AND EXAMPLE OF WHICH WAS THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION SAFETY EXHIBITION AT NGAU TAU KOK.
HOWEVER, THE FIRST PREREQUISITE OF ACCIDENT PREVENTION WAS A SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE PART OF ALL THOSE WORKING IN FACTORIES OR ON SITES.
THE MAIN HOPE FOR THE FUTURE LAY WITH ADEQUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF EVERYONE IN INDUSTRY.
+FOR ANY ORGANISATION WHICH TAKES SAFETY SERIOUSLY, EVERYONE IN THE ORGANISATION, FROM BOARDROOM DIRECTORS DOWN TO GRASS-ROOT WORKERS, MUST BE DEEPLY INVOLVED,+ MR CHAN EMPHASISED.
TO THIS END, HE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ADVICE #
* HAVE A CLEAR AND PRECISE SAFETY POLICY AND SET OF
PROCEDURES, PREFERABLY COMING FROM THE TOP MANAGEMENT.
* SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY, AND ACCESS TO THE BOARDROOM SHOULD HAVE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY IN THE ESTABLISHMENT,
*
BUDGET FOR SAFETY WHEN PURCHASING NEW PLANT OR PREPARING NEW TENDERS.
SAFETY SHOULD BE REGARDED
*
AS AN ESSENTIAL ITEM AND NOT A LUXURY.
GIVE THOROUGH JOB TRAINING, INCLUDING SUITABLE SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS, TO ALL NEW WORKERS.
* SUSTAIN INTEREST IN SAFETY BY MEETINGS, CAMPAIGNS,
BONUS SYSTEMS AND SO ON. WORKERS' PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT WERE ESSENTIAL FOR THE SUCCESS OF ANY SAFETY PROGRAMME.
IN CONCLUSION, MR CHAN SAID A LITTLE FORESIGHT AND EXPENDITURE SPENT IN TAKING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WAS BUT SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR THE HUMAN SUFFERING AND FINANCIAL LOSS INCURRED.
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