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Fire and chemical safety campaign launched
The Labour Department today (Monday) launched a campaign to enhance fire and chemical safety in factories and catering establishments.
Deputy Chief Factory Inspector, Mr Tse Ming-sing, said the two-month campaign was aimed at alerting proprietors and workers of factories and catering establishments to keep their workplaces free from fire and chemical hazards, especially during the dry season.
"The campaign will target at factories and catering establishments with large quantities of flammable substances and dangerous chemicals as well as those with poor safety records," he said.
During the campaign, surprise inspections will be made and prosecution actions will be taken without warning against any proprietor or worker who violates the fire and chemical safety provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations.
Mr Tse urged proprietors to keep all means of escape in industrial undertakings free from obstruction to ensure a free passage for workers in case of fire. Moreover, all containers holding dangerous chemicals should be properly labelled.
"Workers should take good care of themselves and of other people by adopting safety precautions," he added.
Any proprietor who contravenes the fire and chemical safety provisions is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment while an employee is liable to a maximum fine of $10,000.
End/Monday, October 23, 1995