XN000022-1977-09-11 — Page 8

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1977

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DELIVERY SERVICE WITH A DIFFERENCE

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FOR THE MOST PAINSTAKING AND RELIABLE DELIVERY SERVICE IN HONG KONG, THE MINES DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS NO EQUAL.

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DELIVERIES,

ITS SERVICE IS COMPARABLE TO THE MILKMAN'S. FRESH FOR CONSUMPTION EACH DAY, ARE MADE WITHOUT FAIL TO THE VERY DOOR STEPS OF CUSTOMERS.

BUT IN PLACE OF MILK BOTTLES THE MINES DIVISION'S DELIVERY TEAMS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH A FAR MORE DEMANDING COMMODITY - CARTONS OF EXPLOSIVES AND DETONATORS.

THE ROUND BEGINS EVERY MORNING SIX DAYS A WEEK AT THE GREEN ISLAND EXPLOSIVES DEPOT WHERE EXPLOSIVES ARE LOADED ONTO A SPECIAL DELIVERY LAUNCH.

THIS LAUNCH IS PURPOSE-BUILT FOR ITS IMPORTANT CARGO WITH A SPECIAL HOLD FOR DETONATORS WHICH ARE HANDLED AND STOWED QUITE SEPARATELY FROM THE BLASTING EXPLOSIVES FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY.

THE HOLDS ARE FITTED WITH AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS AND THE ENGINE-ROOM IS INSTALLED WITH A CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEM WHICH CAN BE QUICKLY ACTIVATED IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF FIRE.

ON AVERAGE SOME THREE TO TEN TONS OF EXPLOSIVES ALL TO BE CONSUMED ON THE DAY ARE LOADED EACH MORNING FOR DELIVERY. THEY ARE TAKEN TO WATERFRONT DISTRIBUTION POINTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AS WELL AS ON THE MAINLAND AND LANTAU WHERE INDIVIDUAL CONS IGNMENTS DESTINED FOR PARTICULAR BLASTING SITES ARE OFF-LOADED ONTO DELIVERY TRUCKS,

THESE TRUCKS ARE ALSO PURPOSE-BUILT TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST ACCIDENTS DURING TRANSPORTATION. INDIVIDUAL SPARK-PROOF TIMBER-LINED COMPARTMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR DETONATORS AND EXPLOSIVES WITH SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN TO PREVENT EXPLOSION FROM SENSITIVE DETONATORS TRANSMITTING TO THE EXPLOSIVE CARGO,

ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES ENSURE THAT THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM IS NOT POSITIONED NEAR TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IN ADDITION IS SEPARATED FROM THE CAB AND THE FUEL TANK BY A FIRE SCREEN. WHEEL ARCHES ARE ALSO LINED WITH ASBESTOS IN CASE OF A TYRE CATCHING FIRE.

+PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFEGUARD OF ALL IS THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE EXPLOSIVES INSPECTORS, EXPLOSIVES SUPERVISORS AND DRIVERS WHO STAFF THIS DELIVERY SYSTEM AND MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE+, THE CHIEF EXPLOSIVES OFFICER, MR. GEORGE RANSON SAID.

/WHENEVER