SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1992
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WORKPLACE IN CATERING INDUSTRY MUST BE SAFE
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PROPRIETORS IN THE CATERING INDUSTRY MUST ENSURE THEIR EMPLOYEES' SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR CHAN TAT-KING SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
"UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK IN CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS, SUCH AS RESTAURANTS, FAST FOOD SHOPS AND CANTEENS, IS NOW SUBJECT то CONTROL BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT,' MR CHAN SAID.
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"CATERING PROPRIETORS CAN NO LONGER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT THEIR WORKPLACES ARE RELATIVELY SAFE WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES," HE SAID.
"ON THE CONTRARY, SEVERAL HAZARDS MAY BE PRESENT AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED SPACE IN A KITCHEN, HE ADDED.
REPORTED
ACCIDENTS
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE 16,512 IN THE CATERING TRADE LAST YEAR, REPRESENTING A NINE PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1990.
"THE COMMON CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS ARE CUT BY KNIVES AND OTHER HAND TOOLS, BURN BY HOT WATER OR OIL, STEPPING ON OR STRIKING AGAINST OBJECTS, FALLING ON TO THE FLOOR AND BACK INJURY DUE TO LIFTING OF OBJECT, HE SAID.
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MR CHAN ASKED PROPRIETORS TO TAKE POSITIVE STEPS ΤΟ IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS BY CONDUCTING THEIR OWN INSPECTIONS.
"IN ADDITION, THEY SHOULD PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A SAFE AND HEALTHY SYSTEM OF WORK WHILE PROVIDING ADEQUATE INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT FAILURE IN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS OFTEN LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.
"MANAGEMENT AT ALL LEVELS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES' SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK WHICH IS AS MUCH A RESPONSIBILITY AS ANY OTHER FEATURE OF THEIR WORK, HE STRESSED.
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HAD BEEN
MR CHAN NOTED THAT SIX CATERING PROPRIETORS PROSECUTED FOR BREACHING THE SAFETY AND HEALTH LAWS SINCE ITS EXTENSION TO THE CATERING TRADE ON DECEMBER 1 LAST YEAR.
"THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL SPARE NO EFFORTS ΤΟ PROSECUTE CATERING PROPRIETORS WHO FAIL TO MEET THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS,
MR
CHAN REITERATED.
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