21
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991
SAFETY
ᎨᏒ LEWIS SAID: "TO
MAKE SURE THESE
MEASURES ARE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED, STAFF FROM THE DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO PAYING FREQUENT VISITS TO THE BUILDINGS CONCERNED.".
HE SAID ADVICE ON IDENTIFICATION AND REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS WAS BEING GIVEN BY BLD STAFF DURING THE CONTACTS WITH THE OWNERS AND CONTRACTORS.
"SIMPLE GUIDELINES CONCERNING ASBESTOS HANDLING AND DISPOSAL ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO OWNERS AND CONTRACTORS, WHO CAN, IF NECESSARY, ALSO SEEK FURTHER ADVICE FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRNONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT," MR LEWIS SAID.
SHW ON OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH ON THE MOTION DEBATE ON "OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY" BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON MRS ELIZABETH WONG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIR,
IT HAS BEEN THE ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH.
IN HONG KONG, WE HAVE A HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE OF SOMB 2.8 MILLION PEOPLE. PRESERVATION AND PROMOTION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MAKES FOR A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE AND CONTRIBUTES
OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
OVER THE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PROVIDING A WHOLE RANGE OF PREVENTIVE, PROMOTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE WORKING COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY, UNDER OUR EXISTING REHABILITATION POLICY, REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CAUSES OF DISABILITY, SHOULD A WORKER BECOME DISABLED AS A RESULT OF AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT, HE WILL GET THE REQUIRED MEDICAL AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TO ENABLE HIM TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM RESTORATION OF HIS IMPAIRED ABILITY. ALL THIS IS, OF COURSE, NOT ENOUGH. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE ADMIRABLE WORDS OF SOME SPEAKERS BEFORE ME, WHAT PREVENTIVE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MEASURES ARE THERE FOR THOSE OF US WITH LOWER BACK PAIN WHO BUMBLE AWAY LIKE THE BUSY BUMBLE BEES THAT WE ARE OR HUMBLE BEES THAT SOME OF US HOPE TO BE.
/SIR, THE