XN000022-1977-06-30 — Page 7

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1977

LAW ON CARTRIDGE OPERATED TOOLS EFFECTIVE TOMORROW

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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY REMINDED FACTORY PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS THAT REGULATIONS CONTROLLING THE USE OF CARTRIDGE OPERATED FIXING TOOLS WILL COME INTO FORCE TOMORROW (JULY 1).

THESE TOOLS, A SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO DRILLING, ARE WIDELY USED FOR FASTENING ATTACHMENTS TO WALLS AND CEILINGS AND HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF 41 ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING FOUR FATAL ONES SINCE 1973.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE OPERATORS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED IN THE USE OF THESE TOOLS.

THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CARTRIDGE OPERATED FIXING TOOLS) REGULATIONS 1977, APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MARCH IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS ON A CONTRACTOR OR PROPRIETOR AND THE OPERATOR OF THESE TOOLS.

THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE REGULATIONS ARE:

* ONLY TOOLS APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR

AND SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE REGULATIONS MAY BE USED IN AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK ING-

*

*

*

AN OPERATOR OF A TOOL MUST NOT BE UNDER 18, AND MUST HOLD A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY IN A FORM APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR=

ONLY CARTRIDGES WHICH MEET THE MANUFACTURERS' SPECIFICATIONS MAY BE USED WITH A PARTICULAR TOOL-

A SUITABLE STRONG BOX, WITH A LOCK, MUST BE PROVIDED FOR THE TOOL- AND THE BOX MUST CONTAIN AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE ON THE CARE AND OPERATION OF THE TOOL.

* THE TOOL MUST BE USED IN A PLACE WHICH IS SUITABLY

LIT AND SAFE AND WHERE THERE IS NO FLAMMABLE VAPOUR- AND

*

IF A PROPRIETOR OF AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING ON A CONTRACTOR IN CONSTRUCTION WORK COMMITS AN OFFENCE, HE IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $5,000, AND IF AN OPERATOR COMMITS AN OFFENCE, HE IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $2,000.

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