XN000022-1974-02-12 — Page 3

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Tuesday, February 12, 1974

INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT TOLL DOWN

But No Room For Complacency Warns Labour Commissioner

Sixteen people were killed and 2,131 injured at work in the

first month of this year.

Announcing the figures today, the Commissioner of Labour,

Mr. Ian Price, said: "These figures are less than the 34 dead and

2,446 injured in January 1973. Unfortunately, this is more likely to

be due to the Lunar New Year being in January this year, rather than to

any dramatic increase in the application of work safety methods.

"However, I still hope that the major Industrial Safety Exhibition

at the recent CMA Fair is showing an effect in increasing consciousness of

safety among managements and workers."

"I have also made a number of new safety regulations in recent

months, including the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Confined

Spaces) Regulations; the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations

which become effective on May 1; the Quarries (Safety) Regulations; the

Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting

Gear) Regulations 1974, which will become effective on November 1 this year; and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (First Aid in

Registrable Workplaces) (Amendment) Regulations, * Mr. Price added.

"The first four regulations provide more stringent controls

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to improve general working conditions, and the last set of regulations

in an effort to ease the shortage of trained first-aid personnel in

industries - recognises a wider range of qualifications for them.

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The Commissioner