XN000022-1978-07-19 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1978 '

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WORK SAFETY STRESSED

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, TODAY STRESSED THE NECESSITY FOR PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS TO OESERVE PRECAUTIONS LAID DOWN BY LAM TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HENDERSON DREW ATTENTION TO THE PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED BY THE 1973 FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATIONS.

HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. WONG LAM, WHO ASKED WHAT STEPS THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS AG THE TWO RECENT TRAGEDIES WHICH RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF TWC WORKERS AT KAI TAK AND FIVE HONG KONG SEAMEN WHILE WORKING IN A FUEL TANK ABOARD A SHIP.

MR. HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT EECAUSE OF THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF WORK IN CONFINED SPACES, THE WIDE VARIETY OF SUCH CONFINED SPACES, AND THE WAY OF DIFFERENT HAZARDS ENCOUNTERED, FIELD INSPECTION IN THESE CASES WAS OF LIMITED VALUE. THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT THEREFORE CONCENTRATED ITS EFFORT ON GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.

HE SAID A GUIDE TO THE REGULATIONS WAS PUBLISHED AND FREE SAFETY COURSES ON WORK IN CONFINED SPACES WERE HELD REGULARLY.

WITH REGARD TO THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT KAI TAK, MR. HENDERSON SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WAS CONSIDERING WHETHER A PROSECUTION WAS WARRANTED, BUT INVESTIGATIONS WERE NOT YET COMPLETE.

AS FOR THE FATAL ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE HONG KONG SEAMEN ON BOARD A BRITISH REGISTERED TANKER IN THE PACIFIC, THE U.K. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE WAS CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION.

MR. HENDERSON SAID THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND THE V.K. DEPARTMENT OF TRADE BOTH OFFERED GUIDANCE AND ADVICE ON WORKING

IN CONFINED SPACES ON BOARD SHIPS. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL BILL WHICH WOULD BE ENACTED SHORTLY WOULD REQUIRE WORK PLACES ON BOARD SHIPS WITHIN HONG KONG WATERS TO BE MADE SAFE BEFORE WORK ON REPAIRS OR CARGO-HANDLING COMMENCED.

BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS (AMENDMENT) BILL BECOMES LAW

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THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 WAS PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY MINUS ITS ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE APPLICATION OF THE MAIN ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE VESSELS CONTAINING COMPRESSED INERT GASES.

THE PROPOSAL WAS WITHDRAWN FOR THE TIME BEING BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, FOLLOWING SIR SZE- YUEN CHUNG'S REPRESENTATION THAT PRIORITY OF IMPOSING ADDITIONAL CONTROLS BE GIVEN TO COMPRESSED NON-INERT GASES IN VIEW OF THE GREATER HAZARDS POTENTIAL.

/MR, HENDERSON