XN000022-1977-08-31 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1977·

GOVERNMENT ENSURES INJURED WORKERS GET HELP

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. PETER WILLIAMS, TODAY OUTLINED DETAILS OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES INJURED AT WORK GET ASSISTANCE UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

+MANY OF US IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES ARE UNAWARE OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO REALLY NEED ASSISTANCE CAN GET IT, HE TOLD THE ROTARY CLUB OF KWUN TONG AT THE PENINSULA HOTEL.

MR. WILLIAMS SAID IN CLAIMING WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, AN EMPLOYEE INJURED AT WORK WOULD BE ASSISTED BY AT LEAST TWO UNITS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT - THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT AND THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH UNIT.

THE FORMER UNIT. HE SAID, AIMS TO ASSIST INJURED WORKMEN OR DEPENDANTS OF DECEASED WORKMEN TO OBTAIN COMPENSATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THIS UNIT WORKED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH UNIT STAFFED BY PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

HE ADDED THAT THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT WAS PLANNING TO EXPAND ITS SERVICES WITH MORE BRANCH OFFICES IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS.

TOUCHING ON ACCIDENT STATISTICS IN KWUN TONG, THE COMMISSIONER SAID THE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN THE TOWNSHIP WITH 3,300 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING OVER 100,000 PEOPLE, HAD TAKEN ITS ANNUAL TOLL. ACCORDING TO LABOUR DEPARTMENT RECORDS THERE WERE OVER 5,000 ACCIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT IN 1976, REPRESENTING 11.4 PER CENT OF THE RATE FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.

AND IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, THERE WERE 2,500 OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS IN KWUN TONG, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 11 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CASES.

MR. WILLIAMS SAID THAT INFORMATION ON THE OCCURRENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS WAS USUALLY OBTAINED FROM REPORTS MADE BY THE EMPLOYERS OR WORKERS, THE POLICE, OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, FACTORY INSPECTORS, HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

A PROPRIETOR, HE POINTED OUT, WAS OBLIGED TO REPORT ANY ACCIDENT ON HIS PREMISES TO A FACTORY INSPECTOR.

IF THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. THE REPORT MUST BE MADE WITHIN 24 HOURS. IT SHOULD THEN BE FOLLOWED UP WITHIN SEVEN DAYS BY A STATUTORY FORM TO THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT.

IF A WORKER WAS INCAPACITATED FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN SEVEN DAYS.

/ACCIDENTS