WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1981
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LAW SOON TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM NOISE
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ACTION IS IN HAND TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM EXCESSIVE INDUSTRIAL NOISE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO, HE ADDED THAT THE INTENTION WAS TO MAKE REGULATIONS REQUIRING THE PROVISION AND WEARING OF EAR PROTECTORS BY WORKERS IN NOISY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT PRIOR TO CONSIDERING LEGISLATION, HIS DEPARTMENT HAD IMPLEMENTED A POLICY OF EDUCATING WORKERS ON NOISE HAZARDS.
UNDER THE POLICY, THE DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE BEGAN A HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME IN 1978.
FACTORY INSPECTORS, DURING THEIR ROUTINE VISITS, HAVE BEEN ADVISING EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ON THE HAZARDS INVOLVED AND METHODS TO PROTECT THEIR HEARING. THIS ADVICE HAS BEEN SUPPLEMENTED BY PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS.
IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, A POSTER AND A SHORT FILM FOR TV ARE PLANNED. A LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH EXHIBITION TO BE HELD LATER IN THE YEAR WILL PLAY UP THE THEME ON NOISE HAZARDS.
GAS STUDY MAY START NEXT MONTH
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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE HOPED THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH PROSPECTIVE CONSULTANTS TO EXAMINE THE WIDER ASPECT OF THE GAS INDUSTRY WOULD BE CONCLUDED SOON AND THAT THE CONSULTANCY WOULD START NEXT MONTH.
MR DAVIES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LYDIA DUNN.
+1 RECOGNISE THE CONCERN OF SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY OVER THE DANGER OF USING CERTAIN WATER HEATERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE VENTILATION, MR DAVIES SAID AND THIS ADDED TO HIS DISAPPOINTMENT THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PROSPECTIVE CONSULTANTS HAD NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED.
+THE REASON FOR THIS DELAY, HE SAID, IS THAT THE SELECTION OF AN APPROPRIATE CONSULTANT HAS PROVED TO BE MORE COMPLEX AND TIME CONSUMING THAN I ANTICIPATED WHEN I SAID ON JUNE 11 LAST YEAR THAT I HOPED CONSULTANTS WOULD BE AT WORK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.+
THE SELECTION