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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1986
SAFE USE OF WELDING GEAR STRESSED
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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS ADVISED WELDING OPERATORS TO ENSURE THAT OXY-ACETYLENE EQUIPMENT IS PROPERLY FITTED AND TO TAKE CARE TO SEE THE EQUIPMENT IS USED SAFELY.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE FITTED WITH A FLASHBACK ARRESTOR AT THE PRESSURE REGULATOR OUTLET TO PROTECT AGAINST BACKFIRE.
IN ADDITION, A HOSE CHECK VALVE SHOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE CUTTING TORCH OUTLET TO PREVENT BACK-FEEDING OF GAS.
+FLASHBACK IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CUTTING AND WELDING EQUIPMENT, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.
+RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS BY THE PRESSURE EQUIPMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT INTO A NUMBER OF GAS CYLINDER EXPLOSIONS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES SHOWED THAT THE ACCIDENTS RESULTED MAINLY FROM FLAME FLASHING BACK FROM THE GAS CUTTING TORCHES WHICH WERE NOT FITTED WITH ANY SAFETY DEVICES, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED OPERATORS TO PURGE THE HOSE BEFORE LIGHTING THE TORCH AS THE HOSE MIGHT CONTAIN FLAMMABLE GAS. NO ACCOUNT SHOULD THEY IGNITE THE TORCH BEFORE OPENING THE ACETYLENE VALVE.
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OPERATORS SHOULD MADE SURE HOSES WERE PLACED IN A SAFE POSITION, AND THE CYLINDER ITSELF SHOULD BE PROPERLY POSITIONED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HONG KONG OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE COMPANY, RECENTLY ORGANISED A SEMINAR ON SAFE OPERATION OF GAS WELDING EQUIPMENT.
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EXPERTS FROM THE COMPANY AND OFFICERS FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PRESSURE EQUIPMENT DIVISION AND FACTORY INSPECTORATE ATTENDED.
+AMONG THE TOPICS DISCUSSED WERE THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY WELDERS AND MODERN SAFETY MECHANISMS AND DEVICES FITTED IN THE LATEST EQUIPMENT,+ HE SAID.
+ IT WAS GENERALLY FELT THAT OWNERS SHOULD BE URGED TO BUY GOOD QUALITY EQUIPMENT MADE BY REPUTABLE MANUFACTURERS. +
BUYING CHEAP SUB-STANDARD EQUIPMENT MIGHT SAVE A FEW DOLLARS,
BUT THE END RESULT COULD BE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT THE PRESSURE EQUIPMENT DIVISION
IN HARBOUR BUILDING OR BY CALLING 5-8524189.