5
TUESUAT JUNE 23, 1981
EMPLOYERS REMINDED TO REPORT WORKERS' INJURIES
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THREE EMPLOYERS WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $2 400 BY THE COURTS LAST MONTH (MAY) FOR FAILING TO INFORM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THEIR EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF SEVEN DAYS.
TWO OF THE EMPLOYERS WERE EACH FINED $1 000 - THE MAXIMUM FINE PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE IS INJURED AT WORK AND IS GIVEN SICK LEAVE BY A DOCTOR FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS, THE EMPLOYER SHOULD NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF THIS IN THE PRESCRIBED FORM WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.
THE EMPLOYER SHOULD DO SO WHETHER OR NOT THE ACCIDENT GIVES
RISE TO LIABILITY FOR COMPENSATION.
THE THREE COURT CASES WERE AMONG A TOTAL OF 822 TAKEN OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT'S PROSECUTIONS UNIT LAST MONTH FOR BREACHES OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.
A TOTAL OF 797 CASES RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, WITH FINES TOTALLING $732 500.
OF THESE CASES, 269 CONCERNED VIOLATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS WITH FINES OF $416 500, INCLUDING 126 (WITH $240 600 IN FINES) FOR BREACHES OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS AND 103 (WITH $132 000 IN FINES) FOR BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS.
OFFENCES IN CONNECTION WITH EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACCOUNTED FOR 435 CASES, AND $240 650 IN FINES.
OF THE OTHER CASES, 31 (WITH $32 050 IN FINES) RELATED TO FAILURE TO KEEP OR PRODUCE FOR INSPECTION RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES.
WORKMEN WARNED OF NEED TO WEAR SAFETY HELMETS
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WORKMEN WHO REFUSE TO WEAR SAFETY HELMETS PROVIDED BY EMPLOYERS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES RISK BEING PROSECUTED AND FINED UP TO $10 000, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE WAS COMMENTING ON A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A CARPENTER WAS FINED $100 FOR BREACHING THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS BY FAILING TO WEAR A SAFETY HELMET PROVIDED BY HIS EMPLOYER.
REGULATION 69, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, STATES THAT ANY CONTRACTOR OR WORKMAN ENGAGED IN CONSTRUCTION WORK WHO WILFULLY AND WITHOUT REASONABLE CAUSE DOES ANYTHING LIKELY TO ENDANGER HIMSELF OR OTHERS SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND SHALL BE LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $10 000+.
/THE SPOKESMAN