XN000022-1975-07-27 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JULY 27, 1975

HONG KONG VIRTUALLY FREE FROM SERIOUS OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

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SERIOUS OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS AND DISEASES WHICH PLAGUED HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL WORKERS' 20 YEARS AGO HAVE NOW BEEN ALMOST ENTIRELY

RADICATED THANKS MAINLY TO EFFORTS OF THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH LIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

HEADED BY A TEAM OF MEDICAL DOCTORS, THE DIVISION SPECIALISES

IN SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH OF THE LABOUR FORCE.

ITS WORK IS MAINLY CONCERNED WITH THE PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES, THE PROMOTION OF GOOD HEALTH THROUGH A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT, AND THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF WORKING CONDITIONS IN INDUSTRIES KNOWN TO BE HAZARDOUS.

THE DIVISION IS HEADED BY DR. LAI SAU-SHUE WHO IS SECONDED FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

HE SAID TODAY THAT THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS INCLUDING HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF TOXIC GASES AND VAPOURS, DUST,

HAD ALL RADIATION, EXCESSIVE NOISE, POOR LIGHTING AND VENTILATION BEEN BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL..

+THIS IS PARTLY BECAUSE PROPRIETORS HAVE BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT, AND PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGING NATURE OF OUR INDUSTRIES AND THE WAY THEY ARE RUN,+ HE SAID.

DR. LAI SAID THAT HAZARDOUS AGENTS IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, IF NOT CONTAINED WITHIN SAFETY LIMITS, COULD BRING ABOUT A VARIETY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS RANGING FROM SERIOUS BLOOD DISEASES TO SLIGHT VOMITTING AND NAUSEA.

+FACTORY INSPECTORS MAKE REGULAR VISITS TO FACTORIES AND WHEN THEY NOTICE ANY OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, THE CASES ARE REFERRED TO US FOR ADVICE,+ HE SAID.

OFFICERS FROM THE DIVISION WOULD THEN VISIT THE FACTORY CONCERNED TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND MAKE RECOMMONDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

MOST FACTORY OWNERS ACCEPTED THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROMPTLY IMPROVED THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT. ONLY ON A FEW OCCASIONS HAD IT LEEN NECESSARY TO USE STATUTORY POWERS PROVIDED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS TO EFFECT IMPROVEMENTS.

+OUR DIVISION ALSO RECEIVES COMPLAINTS FROM FACTORY WORKERS WHO MAY REPORT ANY SUSPECTED HEALTH HAZARDS IN THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT,+ DR. LAI SAID. +EACH CASE IS INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY, FOLLOWED BY APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.

/RESIDES