SUNDAY, MAY 30, 1993
OTHER OFFENCES, INCLUDING FAILURE TO ENSURE WORKERS MAKING FULL AND PROPER USE OF EYE PROTECTOR AND FACE SHIELD, WEARING HELMETS, AND ALLOWING SWITCH BOARD AND SWITCH BOX WITH LIVE WIRE
SAFETY
EXPOSED CAUSING ELECTRICAL HAZARD, WERE ALSO DETECTED.
ENDS
THEIR
COMMENTING ON THE CASE, MR KAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS OF STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SITE SAFETY UNDER THE FACTORIES INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, PARTICULAR, THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
AND
IN
HAS
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CONTRACTOR OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE AN OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW TO PROVIDE A SUITABLE SCAFFOLD FOR WORKERS WORKING AT HEIGHT.
"THE WORKING PLATFORM ON THE SCAFFOLD SHOULD BE OF SOUND CONSTRUCTION, WITH ADEQUATE WIDTH AND CLOSELY PLANKED," HE SAID.
"GUARDRAILS OF ADEQUATE STRENGTH AND HEIGHT SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE SIDES OF THE PLATFORM.
"WHERE IT IS IMPRACTICABLE TO PROVIDE A SCAFFOLD, SAFETY ATTACHED TO AN INDEPENDENT LIFE LINE SHOULD BE USED,
IN
HE ADDED.
BELTS
USED
MR KAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ALL APPARATUS AND CONDUCTORS CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION MUST BE PROPERLY INSTALLED, PROTECTED AND MAINTAINED TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL HAZARD.
"ALL CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTORS AND WIRING MUST BE INSULATED AND SAFEGUARDED TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL CONTACT BY WORKERS, HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, CONTRACTORS MUST PROVIDE NECESSARY SUITABLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS EYE PROTECTORS, FACE SHIELDS, SAFETY HELMETS SAFETY BELTS, TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM INJURY, MR KAN NOTED.
AND
"ON THE OTHER HAND, WORKERS SHOULD CO-OPERATE AND USE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER WHILE AT TO ENSURE THEIR OWN SAFETY," HE SAID.
THE
WORK
MR KAN SAID A SPECIAL TASK FORCE PROGRAMME, SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE SAFETY IN SITES THROUGH INTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, ALREADY BEEN STARTED IN APRIL.
HAD
A
"UNSCRUPULOUS CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS WHO CHOOSE TO TURN BLIND EYE TO THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW WILL BE PROSECUTED.
"EMPLOYERS, UPON CONVICTION, IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000, WHILE EMPLOYEES MAY FACE A FINE OF $10,000, HE STRESSED.
"
LAUNCHED
DURING THE SIX-MONTH SPECIAL TASK FORCE OPERATION, BETWEEN APRIL AND OCTOBER IN 1992, FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT MADE 993 INSPECTIONS.
A TOTAL OF AGAINST EMPLOYERS SAID, ADDING THAT AREAS.
OUT
475 SUMMONSES AGAINST 224 SITES WERE TAKEN FOR VIOLATION OF THE SAFETY REGULATIONS, MR KAN MOST OF THE OFFENCES WERE RELATED TO HIGH RISK
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