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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
ON CLARIFYING THE SEPARATE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SAFETY OFFICERS, SAFETY SUPERVISORS AND EMPLOYERS, HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS WOULD BE EMPLOYEES THEY THEREFORE HAD LIMITED POWERS.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT PART V OF THE REGULATIONS CLEARLY PLACED ON THE EMPLOYER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING THE SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS WITH ALL THE ASSISTANCE AND FACILITIES THEY NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES.
+I BELIEVE THAT EMPLOYERS WILL FULLY SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SAFETY OFFICERS BUT THERE ARE PENALTIES IN THE REGULATIONS FOR ANY EMPLOYERS WHO FAILS TO DO SO, HE SAID.
MR BRIDGE REITERATED THAT THE POINT THAT INITIALLY THE REGULATIONS WOULD IN FACT BE APPLIED ONLY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WOULD BE EMPHASISED IN PUBLICITY.
+HOWEVER, THE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN DRAFTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY CAN IN DUE COURSE BE APPLIED TO OTHER INDUSTRIES IF THE NEED ARISES: BUT LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULES WILL BE NECESSARY SO THAT THE APPROVAL OF THIS COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED,+ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE REQUIREMENT FOR SAFETY OFFICERS WAS ON A COMPANY OR SITE BASIS, MR BRIDGE SAID THE FOURTH SCHEDULE WAS QUITE CLEAR THAT IT WAS ON A COMPANY BASIS.
THE REQUIREMENT WAS FOR ONE COMPANY TO EMPLOY ONE SAFETY OFFICER REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION SITES THE COMPANY HAD.
ON THE NEED FOR THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO MONITOR THE APPLICATION OF THE REGULATIONS, MR BRIDGE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE INSPECTORATE WOULD HAVE THIS VERY MUCH IN MIND.
HE ALSO SAID THAT AS THE REGULATIONS WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN TWO STAGES, ON DECEMBER 1, 1986 AND DECEMBER 1, 1987, HE INTENDED TO REVIEW THEM ONE YEAR AFTER THE SECOND STAGE HAD BEEN
IMPLEMENTED, TOWARDS THE END OF 1988.
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