-
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1994
INSPECTION CAMPAIGN TO ENHANCE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL LAUNCH AN EXTENSIVE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN ON FACTORIES AND CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS TOMORROW (MONDAY) AS PART OF ITS CONTINUED EFFORTS ΤΟ IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY THROUGH STRINGENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS.
"ALTHOUGH THE ACCIDENT FIGURES FOR THE TWO INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN ON THE DECLINE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS ALWAYS COMMITTED TO BRINGING DOWN FURTHER THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FIRE AND CHEMICALS, DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR KAN HON-SANG SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
"PROPRIETORS OF FACTORIES AND CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS SHOULD ALSO MAINTAIN THEIR VIGILANCE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COMING DRY SEASON, AS THERE WERE STILL TWO FATAL ACCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH FIRE IN 1993."
THE SPECIAL INSPECTION CAMPAIGN, WHICH WILL LAST TWO MONTHS, WILL TARGET ON FACTORIES AND CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS INVOLVING LARGE QUANTITIES OF FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES AND DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, AND THOSE WITH POOR PERFORMANCE RECORDS UNDER THE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY REGULATIONS.
"DURING THE CAMPAIGN, FACTORY INSPECTORS WILL MAKE SURPRISE INSPECTIONS TO THESE INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND PROSECUTIONS WILL TAKEN, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AGAINST PROPRIETORS OR WORKERS WHO BREACH THE SAFETY AND HEALTH PROVISIONS, HE SAID.
BE
MR KAN POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY PROVISIONS OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, PROPRIETORS OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN MEANS OF ESCAPES SUCH AS DOORWAYS, PASSAGEWAYS AND STAIRCASES IN GOOD CONDITION AND FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION.
"EXIT DOORS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED то MAINTAINED UNLOCKED OR UNFASTENED AT ALL TIMES TO ESCAPE OF WORKERS IN CASE OF FIRE, HE SAID.
H
"IN PLACES WHERE SMOKING IS PROHIBITED,
OPEN OUTWARD AND FACILITATE SPEEDY
PROPRIETORS ARE
REQUIRED TO DISPLAY PROHIBITION NOTICES CONSPICUOUSLY AND ENSURE THAT NO PERSON SMOKES IN THE AREA, HE ADDED.
.
WITH REGARD TO THE HANDLING OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, MR KAN SAID CONTAINERS OF THESE SUBSTANCES SHOULD BE PROPERLY LABELLED TO INDICATE ANY RISK INHERENT IN THE SUBSTANCES AND THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED IN RESPECT OF THE SUBSTANCES.
HE REMINDED PROPRIETORS THAT CONTRAVENING THE PROVISIONS UNDER THE FIRE AND CHEMICAL SAFETY REGULATIONS WOULD RENDER THEM LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $200,000 AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT WHILE AN EMPLOYEE WOULD BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000.
ON
IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR OWN SAFETY AND HEALTH, MR KAN CALLED ALL EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW AND WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP THE WORKPLACE SAFE.
0
-
/2