WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986
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A FURTHER 30 ARE ENGAGED IN INSPECTION OF CONSTRUCTION SITES WHILE THE REMAINDER IN VARIOUS SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS SUCH AS TRAINING AND PROSECUTION.
+THE FREQUENCY OF ROUTINE INSPECTIONS VARIES FROM ONCE IN SIX MONTHS IN THE CASE OF A LARGE FACTORY WITH HIGH POTENTIAL HAZARD TO ONCE IN A MAXIMUM OF 54 MONTHS IN THE CASE OF A SMALL LOW-RISK FACTORY WITH A GOOD SAFETY RECORD,+ SAID MR YIP.
+IN ADDITION TO ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN IN THE CASE OF SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENTS OR COMPLAINTS.
+AND FOLLOW-UP INSPECTIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES ARE NORMALLY MADE WITHIN ONE TO THREE MONTHS WHERE A NEED FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.+
MR YIP STRESSED THAT EVERY EFFORT HAD BEEN MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT TO MAXIMISE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPECTION WITHIN THE PRESENT CONSTRAINTS OF MANPOWER,
AS AND WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, HE ADDED, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD EXPAND ITS FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO AROUND 250, THUS ENABLING IT TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF INSPECTIONS.
HOWEVER, MR YIP POINTED OUT THAT INSPECTIONS OR PROSECUTIONS COULD ONLY RESULT IN A TEMPORARY IMPACT AND WOULD NOT ALWAYS BE TAKEN AS A LESSON.
TO MAKE A SAFETY AND HEALTH POLICY TRULY EFFECTIVE, A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME OF WIDER ACTIVITIES IS NECESSARY TO COMPLEMENT THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
IN THIS RESPECT, A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MANPOWER AND RESOURCES OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE IS COMMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE PROMOTION OF THESE WIDER ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE ADVISORY AND INFORMATION SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND INTENSIVE PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES.
ON THE ADVISORY ROLE, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE ALWAYS TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO DISCUSS SAFETY PROBLEMS AND EXPLAIN THE PRESENCE OF HAZARDS WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS DURING THEIR DAILY VISITS. SAFETY PAMPHLETS ARE DISTRIBUTED FREELY TO COMPLEMENT VERBAL ADVICE.
AS FOR TRAINING, THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE RUN BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE CONDUCTS A WIDE RANGE OF BASIC AND ADVANCE SAFETY COURSES ANNUALLY NOT ONLY FOR ITS OWN STAFF BUT ALSO FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.
TURNING TO