XN000022-1972-10-20 — Page 5

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Friday, October 20, 1972

ACCIDENTS ON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITES

Artificial lighting should be provided where natural lighting in

buildings under construction is inadequate.

Mr. A.H. Carter, the Industrial Safety Training Officer of the

Labour Department, said this would enable workers to see where they were

going and serve as a safety precaution on building sites.

In September, four workers were killed and 324 injured while

working on building construction sites. Of this number, 70 were the result

of accidental falls.

Mr. Carter said: "The number of workers injured by falling from

height could be substantially reduced if higher standards were employed in

the construction of safer working platforms and means of access."

"Many of the falls which occur on the level would not happen if

good housekeeping were maintained."

He continued: "Materials should be neatly stacked, rubbish, debris

and unwanted material removed from the site at regular intervals. They must

not be allowed to accumulate in untidy stacks and piles."

All excavations should be fenced as should be all openings in

floors and lift shafts to prevent workers from falling into them, he added.

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