XN000022-1972-12-02 — Page 2

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Saturday, December 2, 1972

HIGHER STANDARDS OF FIRE PREVENTION NEEDED IN INDUSTRY

Much of the losses caused by fire in 1971-72 could have been avoided

if management had adopted higher standards of fire prevention.

This is the view of the Labour Department's Industrial Safety

Training Officer, Mr. A.E. Carter, who said that during the year direct

fire losses exceeded $72 million and "indirect losses accounted for probably an

equal amount or even more".

He said suitably trained personnel could always make immediate

attack on an outbreak, thus preventing a major fire from developing.

For this reason, the training centre in conjunction with the

Fire Services Department recently organised a series of 40 one-day fire

prevention training courses for personnel in industry.

Mr. Carter said the purpose of the course was to give these people

a basic elementary knowledge of fire prevention and fire fighting.

Emphasis is put on industrial housekeeping, safe storage and

handling of inflammable liquid and practical demonstrations of various fire

extinguishers.

The courses are expected to finish some time this month, but

Mr. Carter said it was the intention of the Labour Department to organise

another series next year.

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