XN000022-1973-12-14 — Page 6

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5

UN

Friday, December 14, 1973

"Today, this year's accident toll is approaching

—

if not actually

passing last year's record high. Last year's toll was 296 dead and 29,639

injured. About 24 hours ago, the latest figures for this year showed 293

dead and 29,450 injured in accidents at work,

"As has been said before, accidents are now happening at the rate

of one every seven or eight minutes throughout the working day."

Mr. Price said: "The cost of accidents in terms of wasted time and

production is enormous. In the past ten years, 3.1 million mandays have

been lost as a result of accidents at work say a five-day break for our

---

entire present industrial workforce.

"And what has been the cash cost to management

and to the

economy? In the past 10 years, I estimate, about $1,388 million, without

doubt the greatest loss from any single factor.

"This enormous bill in human misery and economic losses must be

reduced and reduced quickly.

"The only way in which this can be achieved is for management to

take positive action in the essential work of accident prevention. While

all must play their part, the final responsibility must rest upon the shoulders

of management."

The Industrial Safety Exhibition is open every morning and evening

until January 9.

It shows working models, accident tableaux featuring lifelike durmies,

operating machinery, films and other aids to show the main accident hazards

in Hong Kong's major industries, and the best ways to combat them.

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