XN000022-1973-11-15 — Page 2

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Thursday, November 15, 1975

SAFETY STANDARDS FOR QUARRY WORKERS RAISED

New regulations under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings

Ordinance have been introduced to raise safety standards in Hong Kong's

quarries.

The Quarries (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations, made by the Commissioner

of Labour on October 12, 1973, were yesterday approved by resolution in

the Legislative Council.

The Secretary for Social Services, Mr. F.K. Li, said that since

the enactment of the original regulations four years ago, 10 of the 14

fatal accidents recorded in quarries had resulted from falls. In seven

of the accidents, the workers had not been secured by safety ropes. In

another case, the safety rope had broken.

As a result, the present amending regulations were introduced to

offer à greater degree of safety to workers operating at a height on the

face or top of quarries. The new regulations required a quarry proprietor

to provide each of his workers with a safety harness, which the worker

had to wear, and a safety rope, one end of which must be securely attached

to the safety harness and the other to an anchorage.

"The regulations also impose a duty on a quarry supervisor to

inspect anchorages, safety harnesses, ropes and helmets, and mechanical

equipment," said Mr. Li,

A supervisor was also responsible for ensuring that no person should

use such equipment until it had been put into safe and efficient working

order.

"The regulation