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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY A JOINT EFFORT
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IF EMPLOYERS ARE PREPARED TO PAY THE SAME ATTENTION TO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AS THEY ARE PAYING TO PRODUCTION AND SALES MANAGEMENT, THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, AR DAVID LIN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE ADDRESSED A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF VICTORIA.
+THE FACT THAT HONG KONG EXPORTS KEEP INCREASING INDIRECTLY REFLECTS THAT ITS QUALITY CONTROL IS OF VERY HIGH STANDARD. IT IS FAIR TO SAY, THEREFORE, THAT MANAGEMENT IF WILLING, OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO ADOPT A BETTER APPROACH TO SAFETY, HE ADDED.
MR LIN CONSIDERED THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS STILL VERY HIGH AND STRESSED THAT EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO REDUCE THEM.
FOR ITS PART, HE POINTED OUT, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROGRESSIVELY ENACT NECESSARY LÉGISLATION, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FACTORY INSPECTORS TO 250 BY 1984, EXTEND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND INCREASE PENALTIES PROVIDED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS MADE UNDER IT.
HOWEVER, THE REDUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS DID NOT MERELY DEPEND ON SAFETY LEGISLATION OR ITS STRICT ENFORCEMENT. THE ATTENTION AND INTEREST OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES HAD TO EE AROUSED AND THE IR PRESENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS SAFETY IN THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT DRASTICALLY CHANGED.
+ IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A GOOD SAFETY RECORD, EVERY ONE FROM THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT DOWN TO MINOR STAFF MUST BE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE
IF SAFETY PRACTICES ARE NOT STRICTLY ADHERED TO, HE NOTED.
MR LIN SAID ALREADY MANY ENLIGHTENED EMPLOYERS WERE FOCUSING THE IR ATTENTION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
HE BELIEVED THAT & ITH REGULAR INSPECTION BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO GIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AND WITH EFFORTS BY MANAGEMENT AND CEKERS, THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS IN THE COMING YEAP COULD BE REDUCED.
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