WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993
10
TOUGHER MEASURES TO ENSURE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON PROPOSE A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK IN INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON (WEDNESDAY).
IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS, MR PATTEN SAID HONG KONG'S RECORD OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY HAD BEEN UNACCEPTABLE.
HONG
HE NOTED THAT A WORKER'S CHANCES OF BEING INJURED AT WORK IN KONG WERE SEVERAL TIMES HIGHER THAN THAT OF HIS OR HER COUNTERPARTS IN MOST OTHER DEVELOPED ECONOMIES.
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IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, EACH WORKER HAS A 30 PER CHANCE OF BEING INJURED EVERY YEAR.
CENT
OF THE 65 PEOPLE KILLED IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR, 48 WERE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
"THE
HORRIFIC LIFT ACCIDENT IN JUNE AT A NORTH POINT CONSTRUCTION SITE BROUGHT HOME TO ME THE URGENT NEED TO REPLACE THE CULTURE OF CARELESSNESS WHICH LEADS TO ACCIDENTS WITH A CULTURE OF SAFETY.
**WE
MUST TRY MUCH HARDER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS LIKE THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN,' THE GOVERNOR SAID.
MR PATTEN STRESSED THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS LIED WITH EMPLOYERS, CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS.
"WE INTEND TO GET VERY TOUGH WITH THOSE, BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, WHO CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE LAWS TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK DO NOT APPLY TO THEM, HE SAID.
**
MR PATTEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PRESENT TO LEGCO PROPOSALS
DESIGNED:
*
HE
TO MAKE THE EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS COMPULSORY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES EMPLOYING 100 OR MORE PEOPLE;
TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY PENALTIES FOR BREACHING SAFETY-AT- WORK REGULATIONS;
ΤΟ PROHIBIT UNTRAINED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM WORKING ON CONSTRUCTION SITES;
TO INTRODUCE NEW REGULATIONS ON SUSPENDED WORKING PLATFORMS; AND
TO INTRODUCE STRICTER CONTROLS ON THE MAINTENANCE OF PASSENGER HOISTS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.
SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BRING FORWARD PROPOSALS STRENGTHEN SAFETY ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IN PARTICULAR.
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/CONTRACTORS WHO