SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1993
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CAMPAIGNS RESULT IN 227 PROSECUTIONS
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HAS RECENTLY PROSECUTED MORE THAN 200 FACTORY OWNERS FOR BREACHING INDUSTRIAL
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BUILDING CONTRACTORS AND BAFETY REGULATIONS.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS TAKEN FOLLOWING TWO RECENT CAMPAIGNS LAUNCHED BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION ΤΟ IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES AND FACTORIES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THESE SPECIAL EXERCISES WERE MOUNTED IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY ROUTINE INSPECTIONS.
THAT
CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR CHAN TAT-KING SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) BESIDES SPREADING THE SAFETY GOSPEL, THE CAMPAIGNS HAD RESULTED IN A TOTAL OF 227 PROSECUTIONS, 89 OF THEM WERE AGAINST CONSTRUCTION SITES WHILE THE REMAINING 138 AGAINST FACTORIES FOR BREACHING VARIOUS OFFENCES UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.
"THESE PROSECUTIONS COMPRISED 353 SUMMONSES, 175 OF WHICH WERE ISSUED ΤΟ SITE CONTRACTORS AND THE REMAINING 178 TO FACTORY PROPRIETORS.
DURING THE PHASE I SPECIAL CAMPAIGN ON SITE SAFETY WHICH WAS CONCLUDED IN THE MIDDLE OF LAST MONTH, FACTORY INSPECTORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT 370 INSPECTIONS TO SOME 180 CONSTRUCTION SITES.
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'FAILING TO SET UP GUARD-RAILS OR COVERS TO DANGEROUS PLACES IS THE MOST COMMON OFFENCE COMMITTED BY THE CONTRACTORS.
"OTHER OFFENCES INCLUDED FAILING TO ENSURE WORKERS TO WEAR SAFETY HELMETS AND THE PROVISION OF UNSUITABLE SCAFFOLDS AND WORKING PLATFORMS, MR CHAN SAID.
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APART FROM TAKING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, FACTORY INSPECTORS ALSO GAVE ADVICE TO 124 SUB-CONTRACTORS.
MR CHAN NOTED THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE SAFETY ON WORK SITES THROUGH INTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.
"PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE SHOWED THAT THESE SPECIAL INSPECTIONS WERE VERY EFFECTIVE PARTICULARLY DURING THE HOT AND RAINY SEASON, HE SAID.
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THE PHASE II OPERATION WILL START IN SEPTEMBER FOR TWO MONTHS. FACTORY INSPECTORS WILL EXERCISE GREAT VIGILANCE ON OFFENCES RELATING TO UNSAFE SCAFFOLDS AS IMPROVEMENT TO THE SAFETY OF SCAFFOLDS REMAINS ONE OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE'S MAJOR TARGETS THIS YEAR.
ON THE SPECIAL CAMPAIGN ON FACTORIES LAUNCHED IN MAY, A TOTAL OF 1,406 FACTORIES WERE INSPECTED.
"MOST OF THE SUMMONSES TAKEN OUT WERE RELATED TO REGULATIONS ON GUARDING OF MACHINERY AND FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES.
"IN ADDITION, 954 WARNINGS WERE ISSUED TO FACTORY OPERATORS OR PROPRIETORS, URGING THEM TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THEIR WORKPLACES,"
ADDED.
HE
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