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More workers prosecuted for not observing safety law
More industrial workers were prosecuted by the Labour Department last year for failing to observe safety regulations.
Deputy Chief Factory Inspector, Mr Kan Hon-sang, said today (Monday) that the department prosecuted 13 factory workers and 13 construction workers last year.
"Compared with the prosecution of three factory workers and two construction workers in 1993, the 1994 figures have increased more than four-fold and six-fold respectively," he said.
Mr Kan emphasised that industrial safety was the responsibility of both employers and workers.
According to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, every proprietor of an industrial undertaking has the duty to ensure the safety and health of workers employed by providing a safe system of work, safety training and instructions and suitable personal protective equipment.
"On the other hand, a worker is required to secure the safety and health of himself and of others by co-operating with his employer in the adoption of safety measures and in the proper use of personal protective equipment," he explained.
Mr Kan quoted a recent case in which a worker was fined $750 by the court for failing to wear a safety helmet on a construction site.
"Where there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the employer has done his part in meeting the safety requirements but the worker has failed to co-operate or respond, our factory inspectors will not hesitate to prosecute the worker," he said.
He called for full co-operatioh between employers and workers in observing safety regulations so that industrial accidents could be avoided.
End/Monday, February 13, 1995