CO129-626-2 Movement of dangerous goods around Hong Kong 1-1-1951 - 30-4-1951 — Page 24

望

13

23

sometimes conveyed otherwise than by motor-transport. We consider, also, that the dangers likely to arise in the conveyance of Dangerous Goods by land, usually in much smaller quantities and not as a full consignment, are not as serious as in a full lighter on the water.

We agree that it is a matter of supreme importance that the firms concerned in the handling of Dangerous Goods and Explosives should place men in charge who are able to read and understand the Regulations on the varied conditions of storage, the dangers arising from incompatible goods being stored or placed together and the importance of proper handling.

22.

Use of Dangerous Goods in Factories and Workshops

It will be observed that we have included Registered Factories and Workshops as places for the storage of Dangerous Goods used in the process carried out on these premises. The Commissioner of Labour appeared before us and explained in broad outline the require- ments before registration. It was originally our intention to exempt factories and workshops, which had been passed and registered by the Commissioner of Labour with the use of certain Dangerous Goods essential to their activities, from the requirement of having also a storage licence under the Da

Pangerous Goods Ordinance. The wording of the Ordi- nance, however, which has proved satisfactory in practice in this res- pect, lays stress more on the possession of Dangerous Goods than on their actual storage and the Fire Brigade are anxious that it should be made clear that the proprietors of registered factories and workshops who are in possession of Dangerous Goods must comply with the Dangerous Goods Regulations. While regretting an apparent duplication of licensing, we have required that all factories and workshops must have adequate storage space for the Dangerous Goods used as raw material and that these stores shall be licensed by the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade.

There are certain further precautions which we think should be taken. We note that the original Factories and Workshops Ordinance, No. 18 of 1937, was amended by Ordinance No. 44 of 1917 to the effect that no matter whether less than twenty persons are employed on the premises, if the process, trade or occupation carried on involves the use of petrol or other inflammable liquid, or coal gas, the premises then come within the definition of a workshop and require approval and registration. We recommend that a further amendment be made to this Ordinance to include the use of oxygen and acetylene as compressed gases, of calcium carbide (which interacts with water to produce acetylene gas) and of potassium chlorate as requiring approval and registration under the Factories and Workshops Ordinance.

G

We have set out under Category 6 Substances which become dangerous by interaction with water certain rules to be followed in the generation of acetylene gas from calcium carbide. We are somewhat perturbed by the danger arising from the use of "home-mado" generators without a safety valve and the installation of these generators in small welding shops, frequently beneath domestic premises. Potassium chlorate is frequently used in the manufacture of matches; it is highly dangerous and should only be in approved and registered premises.

23.

Celluloid

A special ordinance, the Celluloid and Cinematograph Film Ordinance, No. 23 of 1923, was passed "to make better provision for the prevention of fire in premises where raw celluloid or cinematograph film is stored or used". All the provisions of this Ordinance and the Regulations made thereunder could, we submit, be more easily made by Regulations under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance.

We recommend