FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1982
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SAFETY PLEA TO PLASTICS INDUSTRY
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THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR J.W. HAYES, TODAY (FRIDAY) URGED EMPLOYERS OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY TO ATTACH MORE IMPORTANCE TO SAFETY AT WORK.
MAKING THE PLEA AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE, DR HAYES ALSO WARNED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON EMPLOYERS WHO FAIL TO PROVIDE GUARDS FOR MACHINERY AND MAINTAIN FIRE ESCAPES AND FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES IN THE IR PREMISES.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE WAS THE FOURTH ONE FORMED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND MORE MIGHT BE FORMED FOR OTHER INDUSTRIES IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.
DR HAYES SAID THERE WERE 38 FIRES IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY BETWEEN 1979 AND 1981, ONLY SECOND TO THE GARMENT INDUSTRY, WITH 64 FIRES.
IN THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE 918 ACCIDENTS IN WHICH WORKERS HAD THEIR HANDS CRUSHED WHILE OPERATING PLASTIC INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES.
HE TOLD THE MEETING IT IS FOR THESE REASONS THAT A SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED FOR THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY.
+YOUR TERMS OF REFERENCE REQUIRE YOU TO PRODUCE CODES OF SAFE WORKING PRACTICE FOR THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY AND TO ESTABLISH A FORUM FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF ALL KINDS OF SUGGESTIONS PERTAINING TO SAFETY IN THE INDUSTRY.
+THEY ALSO REQUEST YOU TO RECOMMEND THE BEST MEANS OF PROVIDING A TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR WORKERS AS WELL AS STIMULATING INTEREST IN SAFETY IN THE INDUSTRY.+
THE SUB-COMMITTEE COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE, EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY.
REFERRING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE, DR HAYES NOTED THAT WITHOUT THE PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIONS, THE WORK OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE WOULD LACK SUBSTANCE AND THE MEANS TO SPREAD ITS
INFLUENCE.
IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION, PERSUASION AND ADVICE, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PROSECUTE OFFENDERS FOR BREACH OF
INDUSTRY SAFETY REGULATIONS,
LAST YEAR,