XN000022-1974-08-18 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1974

ACCIDENT FIGURES IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STILL HIGH

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THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A HIGH-RISK JOB FOR WORKERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. BUT EVEN ALLOWING FOR THIS, HONG KONG BUILDING SITES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NOTORIOUSLY ACCIDENT- PRONE.

IN FACT, LABOUR DEPARTMENT FIGURES SHOW THAT A BUILDING WORKER IS KILLED OR INJURED EVERY 35 WORKING MINUTES - A GRIM RECORD BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

HONG KONG BUILDERS, OF COURSE, PLEAD THAT THEIRS IS A SPECIAL CASE: THEY SAY THE DOMINATION OF HIGH RISE WORK WITH MEN AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING IN CRAMPED AREAS ACCENTUATES THE ACCEPTED RISKS OF THE TRADE.

DESPITE THIS, INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AUTHORITIES HAVE WARNED MANAGEMENT REPEATEDLY THAT ITS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THE PRINCIPLE THAT A WORKER'S LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HEETING A COMPLETION DATE AND THEN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW SIGNS RECENTLY THAT THE MESSAGE MIGHT BE GETTING THROUGH - AT LEAST TO SOME SECTIONS OF THE INDUSTRY.

+THE BUILDING INDUSTRY HAS A SHOCKING SAFETY RECORD AND WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE CHANGE IT,+ SAYS MR. STAN TSAO OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS UNIT. +WE KNOW THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE LICKED TOMORROW, BUT WE HAVE GAINED THE FEELING

IN RECENT MONTHS THAT MANAGEMENT ATTITUDES ARE SLOWLY CHANGING++

MR. TSAO HEADS A TASK FORCE OF 15 FULL-TIME +SAFETY+ INSPECTORS CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS WHICH CAME INTO FORCE ON MAY 1 THIS YEAR.

THE REGULATIONS LAY DOWN THE MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF BUILDING WORKERS. DEPARTMENT OFFICERS STRESS THE WORD 'MINIMUM' AND HAVE BEEN

POINTING OUT TO EMPLOYERS THAT THE REGULATIONS REALLY PROVIDE A BASIS ON WHICH PROPER INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CAN BE BUILT.

SINCE THE REGULATIONS CAME INTO FORCE, THE SAFETY UNIT HAS BEEN WORKING QUIETLY, BUT FORCEFULLY WHEN NECESSARY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW REGULATIONS ARE OBSERVED AND FULLY UNDERSTOOD.

AND WHERE FORMAL AND INFORMAL DISCUSSION AND PERSUASJON HAVE FAILED, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS PREPARED TO BARE ITS STATUTORY TEETH. LAST MONTH, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TOOK OUT TWO SUMMONSES UNDER THE NEW SAFETY REGULATIONS AGAINST A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF TWO WORKERS. THE CASE COMES UP BEFORE THE TSUEN WAN COURT ON SEPTEKDER 13.

/SAYS MR.

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