XN000022-1979-06-24 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1979

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CONCERN FOR STUDENT WORKERS' SAFETY

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ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. DAVID H.F. LIN, TODAY (SUNDAY) URGED LOCAL FACTORY OPERATORS TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS DOING SUMMER JOBS ON THEIR PREMISES.

+STUDENTS, BEING UNTRAINED AND INEXPERIENCED IN THEIR SUMMER WORK, ARE VULNERABLE TO INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS. FACTORY PROPRIETORS SHOULD THEREFORE ENSURE THAT THOSE IN THE IR EMPLOY ARE CLOSELY AND PROPERLY SURPERVISED AND NOT ASSIGNED JOBS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR WHICH INVOLVE THE OPERATION OF DANGEROUS MACHINERY, HE SAID.

MR. LIN ALSO REMINDED STUDENTS TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION AGAINST INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS WHEN WORKING IN FACTORIES OR INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.

+BEWARE OF POWER-DRIVEN MACHINERY, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND CHEMICALS USED IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES, HE ADVISED.

+ IF HANDLED OR OPERATED IMPROPERLY, THEY COULD INJURE, MAIM, OR EVEN KILL, HE SAID.

HE SAID PROPRIETORS, SUPERVISORS AND WORKMEN ALIKE CAN OBTAIN ADVICE ON SAFETY MEASURES AGAINST INDUSTRIAL HAZARDS FROM FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

MR. LIN POINTED OUT THAT STUDENT INJURED WHILE DOING SUMMER JOB, LIKE OTHER INJURED WORKMEN, HAS THE RIGHT TO CLAIM COMPENSATION UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, IN ADDITION, HE MAY ALSO CLAIM DAMAGES UNDER THE COMMON LAW, AND NO MINIMUM LENGTH OF SERVICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ALSO URGED FACTORY MANAGEMENTS TO NOTIFY, ON THE PRESCRIBED FORM, THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION UNIT OF ANY ACCIDENT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER ITS OCCURRENCE.

+ANY EMPLOYER WHO, WITHOUT REASONABLE CAUSE, FAILS TO DO SO, IS GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND LIABLE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $1,000, HE ADDED.

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