11
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1994
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LAWS ARE EFFECTIVE
AND
THE
USEFULNESS
CURRENT
AS LONG AS SITUATION,
THEY ARE LABOUR
NOT AFFECT ITS AND APPLICABLE DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF
THE AGE OF THE SAFETY AND HEALTH LAWS DOES EFFECTIVENESS
IN PRACTICABLE FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR CHAN TAT-KING, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
RATE OF
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, MR
CHAN SAID: "THIS CAN BE REFLECTED BY THE HIGH CONVICTION THE OFFENCES BROUGHT TO THE COURT.
LAST YEAR, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TOOK OUT A TOTAL
AND PROPRIETORS OF THE CONTRACTORS SUMMONSES AGAINST UNDERTAKINGS FOR BREACHING PROVISIONS OF THE FACTORIES AND UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS.
OF 3,001 INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL
THE NUMBER SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 6.7 PER CENT OVER 1992.
OF THEM, 2.925 SUMMONSES WERE CONVICTED AND A TOTAL $17,222,150 WAS IMPOSED.
FINE OF
SAFETY AND
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE "TOP FIVE" OF COMMON HEALTH BREACHES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SIMPLE IN NATURE.
WERE
COMMON
OFFENCES
OR GUARD-RAILS
PROTECTIVE
DETECTED DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT;
TARUGUA
THE CONSTRUCTION
INCLUDED
WORKING
FAILURE PLACES;
TO PROVIDE
INDUSTRY, FENCING
HOIST
FAILURE TO ENSURE THE USE OF
FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUITABLE SCAFFOLD OR WORKING PLATFORMS; FAILURE MAINTAIN
SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS;
DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY EFFECTIVELY.
AND
FAILURE
GUARD
FAILURE
THE OFFENCES INCLUDED THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, IN TO GUARD DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY EFFECTIVELY; FAILURE TO MAINTAIN WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONARY SAFE MEANS OF ESCAPE; FAILURE TO COMPLY NOTICE: FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUITABLE EXIT DOORS; AND FAILURE ADEQUATE SAFETY PRECAUTION IN THE USE OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE.
TO TAKE
"THE BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE BASIC SAFETY PROVISIONS WHICH ARE THE GENERAL APATHY ESSENTIAL AND YET SIMPLE TO IMPLEMENT REFLECTS
MR CHAN SAID. AMONGST MANY CONTRACTORS AND PROPRIETORS,
++
"THEY JUST TURN THEIR BLIND EYE TO THE LAW."
MR
CHAN STRESSED THAT THE LAW BY ITSELF COULD NOT ACHIEVE GOAL OF PREVENTING ACCIDENTS OR ILL HEALTH,
THE
IT
CREATE
IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WHO AND WORK WITH THE RISKS RESPECTIVELY SHOULD TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ELIMINATING THE RISKS.
"OF
COURSE,
LEGISLATION
ALSO
OF A PIECE OF SAFETY
THE RELIES
EFFECTIVENESS
ON
REGULAR REVIEWS
AND
UP-DATING,
WHERE NECESSARY.
/"THIS IS