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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1982
SAFETY HINTS FOR SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS
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THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS BEEN URGED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF BAMBOO SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS.
THE PLEA WAS MADE BY THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE FOLLOWING A STUDY OF ACCIDENTS IN WHICH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FELL FROM HEIGHTS.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED THAT 38 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS FELL TO THEIR DEATHS FROM WORKPLACES AT HEIGHT IN 1981, AND THAT BAMBOO SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS WERE THE MOST COMMON PLACES FROM WHICH THE WORKERS FELL.
THESE TRAGEDIES, ACCORDING TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE, MR CHAN TAT-KING, COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF SOME SIMPLE MEASURES HAD BEEN ADOPTED.
MR CHAN, WHO IS ALSO THE ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, TODAY (SUNDAY) APPEALED TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO ADOPT SAFETY MEASURES FOR SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS.
HE ADVISED BUILDING CONTRACTORS TO LAY DOWN STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR REGULARLY INSPECTING ALL SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND TO REPLACE ALL STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS.
CONTRACTORS SHOULD SECURE ALL SCAFFOLDS AND WORK-PLATFORMS
AND ENSURE THE IR STABILITY THROUGH REGULAR CHECKS.
WORKERS SHOULD REPORT ALL DEFECTS IN THE SCAFFOLDS OR WORK-PLATFORMS TO THE SITE MANAGEMENT SO THAT REPAIRS COULD BE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY, HE ADDED.
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT ACTIVE CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO AMENDING THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDING WORKERS WITH BETTER PROTECTION WHILE WORKING AT HEIGHTS.
+BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE SUB-COMMITTEE WHICH COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND MEMBERS OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK OUT PRACTICAL SAFETY MEASURES TO PROTECT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HE NOTED.
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