XN000022-1976-06-23 — Page 16

15

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1976

CONTROLS ON OVERHEAD WELDING OPERATIONS BEING CONSIDERED

******

SAID

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD TODAY HIS DEPARTMENT WAS CONSIDERING POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO INCORPORATE SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC DURING MINOR ALTERATION AND REPAIR WORKS.

BUT, HE SAID, THIS STUDY WOULD ALSO HAVE TO COVER THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT ANY SCHEME OF CONTROL COULD BE EFFECTIVELY ENFORCED.

MR. MCDONALD WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ROGER LOBO WHO ASKED IF STEPS COULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT FLUX AND DEBRIS FROM FALLING ON PEDESTRIANS DURING WELDING OPERATIONS ON BUILDINGS.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT WHEN A BUILDING OWNER WISHED

TO ERECT, ALTER OR DEMOLISH A BUILDING, OR CARRY OUT ANY BUILDING OPERATION COVERED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, HE COULD BE REQUIRED TO ERECT HOARDINGS AND COVERED WALKWAYS TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS FROM FALLING MATERIALS,

HOWEVER, MANY MINOR ALTERATION AND REPAIR WORKS INCLUDING SOME WELDING OPERATIONS WERE NOT AT PRESENT CONTROLLED BY THE

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.

+CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO THE INCLUSION IN THE ORDINANCE OF SUITABLE PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC DURING THE EXECUTION OF SUCH OPERATIONS, HE SAID. +CLEARLY, ONE ASPECT OF THIS CONSIDERATION MUST BE WHETHER ANY SCHEME OF CONTROL DEVISED CAN BE EFFECTIVELY ENFORCED.+

MR. MCDONALD POINTED OUT THAT PEDESTRIANS DID ALREADY HAVE RECOURSE TO LEGAL ACTION FOR DAMAGES IN RESPECT OF INJURIES SUFFERED, AND COULD ALSO CONTACT THE POLICE TO INITIATE A PROSECUTION UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE, WHICH PROVIDED FOR A FINE OF $500 OR THREE-MONTH IMPRISONMENT FOR DROPPING BUILDING MATERIALS OR OTHER THINGS TO THE DAMAGE OR DANGER OF ANY PERSON.

/16