XN000022-1974-09-17 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1974

FIVE KILLED IN WORK ACCIDENTS LAST MONTH

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FIVE WORKERS WERE KILLED AND 497 INJURED LAST MONTH IN ACCIDENTS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

TWO OF THE FATALITIES AND 85 OF THE INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY FALLS, BRINGING THE TOTAL FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT IN THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR TO 17 KILLED AND 524 INJURED.

THIS COMPARES WITH SIX FATALITIES AND 351 INJURED IN THE SAME EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD LAST YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING OFFICER, MR. NICK CARTER, SAID TODAY.

+THESE FIGURES POINT OUT THAT THE INDUSTRY NOT ONLY HAS A CONTINUING PROBLEM BUT A WORSENING ONE, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A RUNNING SORE UNTIL POSITIVE PRECAUTIONS ARE IMPLEMENTED,+ HE SAID.

+TWO COMMON CAUSES OF FALLS ARE LACK OF SAFE WORKING PLATFORMS - WHICH RESULT IN WORKERS HAVING TO PERFORM LIKE ACROBATS IN A CIRCUS AND LACK OF SAFE MEANS OF ACCESS. OFTEN WORKERS USE MAKESHIFT LADDERS - OR WORSE, NO LADDERS ARE PROVIDED AT ALL.

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+ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE WALKWAYS OR FENCING AROUND EXCAVATION AND OPENINGS IN FLOORS.

+HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORY CAUSE IS THE BAD HOUSE-KEEPING SO EVIDENT ON MOST BUILDING SITES, WHERE PILES OF RUBBISH AND DISCARDED MATERIALS ARE STREWN ABOUT THE PLACE.

+HIGH STANDARDS OF HOUSEKEEPING WILL PAY DIVIDENTS BOTH IN THE REDUCTION OF ACCIDENTS AND THE TIME SAVED IN LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT MATERIALS,+ MR. CARTER EMPHASISED.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS LAUNCHING A NEW SCHEME WHICH WILL ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS THAT CAN PROMOTE THEIR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND AT THE SAME TIME BE OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.

DETAILS OF THIS PROJECT, TO BE KNOWN AS THE +OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME+, WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, 4TH FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG, AT 11 A.M. ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1974.

YOU ARE INVITED TO HAVE THE CONFERENCE COVERED.

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