XN000022-1979-08-20 — Page 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1979

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OTHER MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY THE INSPECTORATE WERE:

* ENFORCING 18 SETS OF STATUTORY REGULATIONS DESIGNED

TO PROTECT WORKERS' SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE-

INSPECTING LARGE AND SMALL INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS-

* CONDUCTING IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR FACTORY

INSPECTORS AND SAFETY COURSES FOR INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS=

* MAINTAINING CLOSE LIAISON WITH INTERESTED BODIES,

SUCH AS THE HONG KONG BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY, PORT HANDLING UNDERTAKINGS AND THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD-

*

DISTRIBUTING GUIDES TO RELEVANT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY

LEGISLATION AS WELL AS BOOKLETS AND POSTERS ON SAFE WORKING PRACTICES- AND

* MOUNTING MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS.

THE INSPECTORATE HAD AN APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT OF 140 OFFICERS (NOT INCLUDING CLERICAL SUPPORTING STAFF) AND OPERATED 20 DIVISIONAL OFFICE THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

IT WAS AT PRESENT 20 PER CENT UNDERSTRENGTH BECAUSE IT HAD LOST MANY TRAINED INSPECTORS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. HOWEVER 19 RECRUITS WOULD BE TAKEN ON IN DECEMBER, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT WAS EXPECTED TO BE DOUBLED IN FOUR YEARS' TIME.

LAST YEAR THE INSPECTORATE MADE 39,015 INSPECTIONS AND

CARRIED OUT 3,478 ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS.

IN ORDER TO ENSURE PROPER PRIORITY OF INSPECTION, THE INSPECTORATE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION AND METHOD UNIT, HAVE DEVISED A SYSTEM WHEREBY FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION OF A FACTORY IS RATED ACCORDING TO ITS SAFETY PERFORMANCE SIZE OF WORKFORCE, COMPLEXITY OF PLANT AND ACCIDENT RECORD.

APART FROM THIS, THE INSPECTORATE'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE LAST YEAR CONDUCTED 195 SAFETY TRAINING COURSES FOR 5,719 EMPLOYEES AND APPRENTICES AND GAVE 112 TALKS TO 7,815 STUDENTS.

IN CONCLUSION, MR. CHAN STRESSED THAT THE INSPECTORATE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO ITS BEST TO REDUCE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND MAKE

INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS SAFER AND HEALTHIER.

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