XN000022-1977-06-12 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 1977

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY FOR SUMMER JOB STUDENTS ******

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS WHO GO TO WORK IN FACTORIES DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS.

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. DAVID LIN, SAID TODAY: +STUDENTS, BEING UNTRAINED AND INEXPERIENCED, ARE NOT AWARE OF INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS AND SHOULD NOT BE ASSIGNED JOBS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR WHICH INVOLVED THE OPERATION OF DANGEROUS MACHINERY.+

HE URGED FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS IN THEIR EMPLOY ARE UNDER CLOSE AND PROPER SUPERVISION.

MR. LIN POINTED OUT THAT AN INJURED STUDENT HAS THE RIGHT TO. CLAIM WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE IF HE IS INJURED AT WORK, JUST LIKE OTHER INJURED WORKMEN.

THE INJURED STUDENT MAY ALSO CLAIM DAMAGES UNDER THE COMMON LAW IF THE EMPLOYER IS PROVED TO BE NEGLIGENT, HE ADDED.

MR. LIN ALSO REMINDED STUDENTS TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION AGAINST WORK ACCIDENTS IN THEIR OWN INTEREST WHEN WORK ING IN FACTORIES.

+BEWARE OF POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY, HE WARNED.

+ IF HANDLED OR OPERATED WITHOUT CARE OR IMPROPERLY, THE MACHINERY COULD INJURE, MAIM OR EVEN KILL A PERSON.

+ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICAL USED IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE IN ORDER TO AVOID ACCIDENTS, + HE SAID,

MR. LIN REMINDED FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO NOTIFY THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, IN THE PRESCRIBED FORM, OF ANY ACCIDENT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER IT OCCURRED.

+ANY EMPLOYER WHC, "WITHOUT REASONABLE CAUSE, FAILS TO DO SO, SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND SHALL BE LIABLE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $1,000+ HE SAID.

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