12
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1994
CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ASKED NOT TO
BREACH SAFETY LAWS
* * * *
NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO CARRY OUT SIMPLE SAFETY PRECAUTION MIGHT RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE OF THE WORKER AND MIGHT RECEIVE SEVERE PUNISHMENT UNDER EXISTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REGULATIONS.
THIS REMINDER IS ISSUED BY THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR CHAN TAT-KING TODAY (SUNDAY).
A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HAS RECENTLY BEEN FINED BY THE COURT A TOTAL OF $100,000 FOR TWO SUMMONSES ISSUED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY REGULATIONS.
WAS
IT WAS A SECOND COURT CASE IN FIVE WEEKS IN WHICH THE OFFENDER GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR VIOLATING SAFETY LAWS.
IN THE FIRST CASE HEARD ON JANUARY 11, A MAGISTRATE IMPOSED A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50,000 AFTER A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WAS CONVICTED OF FAILING TO PROVIDE SUITABLE GUARD-RAILS TO A TWIN LIFT SHAFT OPENINGS.
THE LATEST PROSECUTION RESULTED FROM AN INSPECTION BY FACTORY INSPECTOR (I) MR TSANG HIN-CHEUNG OF THE BUILDING ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES NORTH AND TAI PO REGION TO A WORK SITE AT FANLING AREA 39A ON SEPTEMBER 16 LAST YEAR.
MR TSANG FOUND ONE FLOOR EDGE AND ONE FLOOR OPENING ON THE 16TH FLOOR OF A BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION HAD NO SUITABLE GUARD-RAILS.
FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATIONS RESULTED IN THE PROSECUTION OF SUNG FOO KEE LIMITED UNDER SECTION 38P(1) OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
UPON CONVICTION AT THE FANLING MAGISTRACY ON FEBRUARY 15, THE COMPANY WAS FINED THE MAXIMUM OF $50,000 FOR EACH SUMMONS, MAKING A TOTAL FINE OF $100,000.
THE LAW STATES THAT THE CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR A CONSTRUCTION SITE SHALL ENSURE THAT EVERY OPENING, EDGE OR OTHER DANGEROUS PLACE THROUGH OR FROM WHICH ANY PERSON ON THE SITE IS LIABLE TO FALL A DISTANCE OF MORE THAN TWO METRES IS PROVIDED WITH EITHER SUITABLE STRONG GUARD-RAILS OR COVERINGS SO CONSTRUCTED AS TO PREVENT THE FALL OF PERSONS, MATERIALS AND ARTICLES.
ΤΟ
"RECENT SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS SHOW THAT THE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THOSE WHO CHOOSE IGNORE THEIR LAWFUL DUTIES TO PROTECT WORKERS' SAFETY," MR CHAN SAID.
GUARD-RAILS ΤΟ DANGEROUS
HE POINTED OUT THAT PUTTING UP OPENINGS WAS SIMPLE.
/"TT IS