WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988
42
COMPRESSED AIR WORK: SAFETY PROVISIONS ADEQUATE
TO
AIR
THE EXISTING PROVISIONS IN LAW AND ENFORCEMENT ARE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARD THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS ENGAGED IN COMPRESSED WORK, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON DOMINIC WONG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1987 ONLY THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING PROJECT INVOLVED WORK IN COMPRESSED AIR.
HE SAID THAT BETWEEN MAY 1987 WHEN SUCH WORK BEGAN THIS YEAR, 244 DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS CASES ARISING FROM COMPRSSED AIR WERE REPORTED TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
AND JUNE WORK IN
ΤΟ THE
THESE CASES WERE DIVIDED INTO TWO TYPES ACCORDING DEGREE OF SERIOUSNESS: 239 WERE CATEGORISED AS TYPE I OR MILD CASES, AND FIVE WERE TYPE II OR MORE SERIOUS CASES, HE SAID.
THAT IN
CONCERNING THE NATURE OF SICKNESS, MR WONG EXPLAINED COMPRESSED AIR MORE NITROGEN DISSOLVED IN THE BODY FLUIDS THAN AT NORMAL PRESSURE.
IF THE AIR PRESSURE WAS SUDDENLY REDUCED, BUBBLES OF NITROGEN WOULD FORM IN THE BODY TISSUES AND IN THE BLOODSTREAM, PRODUCING SYMPTOMS COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE "BENDS".
"IN TYPE I CASES, PATIENTS SUFFER FROM PAIN IN ONE OR MORE THEIR LIMBS BUT DO NOT FEEL OR LOOK 1LL. THE INTENSITY VARIES FROM SLIGHT TO AGONISING," HE SAID.
OF
OF THE PAIN
"IN TYPE II CASES, PATIENTS USUALLY FEEL AND APPEAR ADDITION TO PAINS IN THE LIMBS, THEIR BLOOD CIRCULATION NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM AFFECTED."
ILL. IN SYSTEM, MAY BE
TURNING TO THE QUESTION OF ADEQUACY OF MEASURES ΤΟ SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF WORKERS, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT COMPRESSED AIR OPERATIONS WERE GOVERNED BY THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (WORK IN COMPRESSED AIR) REGULATIONS.
"CONTRACTORS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE MEDICAL SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR WORKERS. A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER MUST ВЕ APPOINTED то SUPERVISE ALL MEDICAL MATTERS RELATING TO SUCH WORK, HE SAID.
T
"A NEW HAND CAN ONLY START WORK IF HE HAS OBTAINED A CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS NOT MORE THAN THREE DAYS BEFORE EMPLOYMENT.
"REGULAR WORKERS MUST ALSO OBTAIN CERTIFICATES OF FITNESS EVERY FOUR WEEKS BEFORE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYED.
/"EVEN WITH