8 -
Law to protect gas pipes from careless excavation works
The Gas Safety (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 1995, gazetted by the Government today (Friday), paves the way for the enactment of regulations to control, in the interests of safety, construction works in the vicinity of gas pipes.
Under the Bill, the maximum penalties that may be provided for in regulations made under the Gas Safety Ordinance are set to increase to a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for 12 months. Currently, the maximum penalties are a fine of $25,000 and six months imprisonment.
The Bill will enable the Gas Authority to inspect works near gas pipes, require immediate improvement where works are endangering a gas pipe and to prosecute offenders.
If passed by the Legislative Council, the Bill will be followed by new regulations requiring that construction works should not be carried out near a gas pipe unless its position has been checked and steps taken to ensure that it will not be damaged by the works.
::
Under the new regulations, a person not taking all reasonable measures to protect a gas pipe from damage arising out of his construction works that is likely to prejudice safety commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the new maximum penalty of a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for 12 months.
The proposals reflect the Government's concern at the frequent damage done to gas pipes through careless excavation work. There were 120 such incidents last year.
While the consequences of most of these incidents are relatively minor, damage to a gas pipe may lead to a major fire or explosion. The proposed legislation aims to minimise the potential for such hazards.
The Government intends to bring the bill into effect six months after enactment so as to allow time for the new regulations to be drafted, for a code of practice to be issued by the Gas Authority and for the gas supply companies and the construction industry to adjust to the new requirements.
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on October 18. It was originally introduced into LegCo on March 8 as the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill but was subsequently deferred, along with several other bills, to the 1995-96 session at the request of the Council.
End/Friday, October 6, 1995
Page 10Page 11