SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 1982
GAS SAFETY TRAINING COURSES START NEXT MONTH
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THE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE ACTIVE CO-OPERATION OF THE GAS INDUSTRY, IS LAUNCHING AN INTENSIVE COURSE TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL SKILLS OF LPG FITTERS AND MECHANICS.
THE COURSE, WHICH WILL START NEXT MONTH, IS DESIGNED FOR THOSE WORKERS WHO CARRY OUT LPG INSTALLATIONS AND SERVICING WORK IN DOMESTIC PREMISES, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SAFETY ASPECTS.
THE OIL COMPANIES AND LPG APPLIANCE IMPORTERS WERE CLOSELY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE COURSE AND ARE DONATING A RANGE OF GAS EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCES WHICH WILL BE USED FOR PRACTICAL
INSTRUCTION AND WORKSHOP PRACTICE.
THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE SET UP AT THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE WHERE THE COURSE IS TO BE HELD.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID 10 CLASSES, EACH TOTALLING 40 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, WOULD BE HELD OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
HE EXPECTED THAT MORE CLASSES WOULD BE STARTED TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR PLACES.
THE 200 VACANCIES BECOMING AVAILABLE UP TO THE END OF MARCH 1983 HAVE BEEN SOLIDLY BOOKED BY THE OIL COMPANIES AND APPLIANCE IMPORTERS FOR THEIR STAFF, DEALERS AND CONTRACTORS.
TOWNGAS ALREADY OPERATES TRAINING COURSES FOR ITS STAFF, DEALERS AND CONTRACTORS.
+THE CONCERN FOR IMPROVEMENT IN DOMESTIC GAS INSTALLATIONS IS SHARED EQUALLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GAS INDUSTRY, AND THE INTENSIVE COURSE NOW BEING INTRODUCED IS BUT ONE OF THE MEASURES WHICH ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED OR CONSIDERED TO UPGRADE THE GENERAL LEVEL OF GAS SAFETY IN HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THE LPG APPLIANCE FITTERS' COURSE WAS INITIATED BY THE TRAINING WORKING GROUP OF THE GAS SAFETY INDUSTRIAL LIAISON COMMITTEE, WHICH COMPRISES MOSTLY GOVERNMENT ENGINEERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GAS INDUSTRY.
COURSE MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO BRUSH UP THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF LPG PROPERTIES AND ITS SAFE HANDLING, THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND SERVICING OF GAS APPLIANCES, AND METHODS OF DETECTING FAULTS AND HANDLING EMERGENCIES.
THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO GAIN PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPERATION OF THE APPLIANCES AND FITTINGS AND TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNISE AND PUT RIGHT FAULTY INSTALLATIONS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTRUCTING CUSTOMERS IN THE PROPER USE OF GAS APPLIANCES AFTER INSTALLATION.
THOSE WHO PASS A FOUR-HOUR TRADE TEST AT THE END OF THE COURSE WILL BE AWARDED A CERTIFICATE BY THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.