XN000022-1979-09-09 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1979

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED THAT LESSONS ON GENERAL ASPECTS OF LABORATORY SAFETY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITH EACH CLASS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

+TEACHERS SHOULD EMPHASISE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF LABORATORY SAFETY IN DETAIL WHENEVER OPPORTUNITIES ARISE DURING NORMAL SCIENCE LESSONS, HE SAID.

IN THE CASE OF A LABORATORY BEING USED AS A CLASSROOM FOR NON-SCIENCE LESSONS DUE TO FLOATING CLASS ARRANGEMENTS, HE SAID, THE TEACHER CONCERNED SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THE STUDENTS DO NOT ENTER THE LABORATORY UNLESS HE IS PRESENT, AND THAT THEY DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE ANY OF THE SCIENCE MATERIALS IN THE LABORATORY.

A PAMPHLET ENTITLED +SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY+ HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OUTLINING THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MINIMISING THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENTS IN A SCHOOL LABORATORY.

+TO ENHANCE THE STANDARD OF SAFETY IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES, THIS PAMPHLET SHOULD BE CAREFULLY READ BY ALL SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO PRODUCED POSTERS AND PICTURES ON LABORATORY SAFETY AIMING TO PROMOTE THE AWARENESS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES.

ENQUIRIES ON LABORATORY SAFETY AND REQUESTS FOR THE RELEVANT PAMPHLETS, POSTERS AND PICTURES CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE SCIENCE SUBJECTS SECTION, ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG (TEL. 5-774001 EXT. 37, 38 OR 41).

FIREMEN STEP UP ACTION AGAINST FIRE HAZARDS

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THE FIRE SERVICES TOOK OUT 1 942 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC TENANTS AND COMMERCIAL AND FACTORY PROPRIETORS FOR BREAKING FIRE REGULATIONS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 25 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1 549 IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL FINES IMPOSED IN THIS YEAR'S CASES AMOUNTED TO $614 525 -- $212 305 MORE THAN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS LAST YEAR.

A FIRE SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE CASES MAINLY RELATED TO OBSTRUCTION OF STAIRCASES AND MEANS OF ESCAPE, FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS WITHIN BUILDINGS OR TO COMPLY WITH FIRE SERVICES LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THESE WERE THE MOST COMMON OFFENCES DISCOVERED BY FIRE OFFICERS DURING INSPECTIONS. DURING THE JANUARY-JUNE PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 4 960 FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES WERE ISSUED.

/HE URGED