WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
HOWEVER, AS SUCH AMENDMENTS WOULD CAUSE CONSIDERABLE DELAY IN IMPLEMENTING THE REGULATIONS, MR HU SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR CONSULT FULLY WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEFORE HE EXERCISED HIS POWER, IN ORDER TO ENSURE FAIRNESS.
+SHOULD THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ACT AGAINST THE ADVICE OF HIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER MUST ENSURE A DETAILED INVESTIGATION UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPEAL,+ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, MR HU SAID THE RATIO BETWEEN SAFETY OFFICER AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES FOR EACH PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR OR SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR WORKING AT MORE THAN ONE CONSTRUCTION SITE SHOULD BE CALCULATED ON A COMPANY BASIS.
COMMENTING ON WHETHER AN EMPLOYER WOULD LISTEN TO THE ADVICE OF HIS SAFETY OFFICER, DR IP SAID THAT IT WAS A QUESTION OF MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT AND A CONJOINT EFFORT TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL THE SAFETY OF THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
+IT WILL BE CONSIDERABLY SHORTSIGHTED OF PROPRIETORS NOT TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTIONS BASED ON THE SAFETY OFFICER'S REPORT, WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THE DAMAGE THIS WOULD BRING TO THE IMAGE, CREDIBILITY, AND MORALE OF THE COMPANY, ON TOP OF ALL THE HUMAN SUFFERINGS, INJURY AND DEATH WILL BRING, SHE SAID.
DR IP URGED THAT FACTORY INSPECTORS SHOULD, OTHER THAN INVESTIGATING THOSE PROPRIETORS WHOSE STAFF RECEIVED INJURIES ON SITE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE NORM, OR COMPANIES WHERE SAFETY OFFICERS' REPORTS WERE FRANKLY IGNORED, ALSO STUDY THOSE COMPANIES WHOSE REPORTS CONSISTENTLY SHOWED NO PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE OR WHERE THERE WAS A RAPID TURNOVER OF SAFETY OFFICERS.
MR CHENG SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT OF A SAFETY OFFICER AND A SAFETY SUPERVISOR BY THE PROPRIETOR OF AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING COULD IMPROVE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY, WHICH WAS BADLY NEEDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REGULATIONS WERE INTENDED SOLELY FOR CONSTRUCTION SITES AT THE PRESENT TIME AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE CLEARLY SPELT OUT IN THE GUIDES TO BE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO AVOID UNDUE WORRY BY PROPRIETORS OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS OTHER THAN CONSTRUCTION SITES.
HOWEVER, HE HOPED THAT THE REGULATIONS WOULD BE EXPANDED WHERE APPROPRIATE TO OTHER INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO ENHANCE HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
MR CHENG SAID THE SAFETY OFFICER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHOULD INCLUDE SAFETY OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS SO THAT INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES MIGHT BE WELL PROTECTED.
HE ALSO