XN000022-1980-04-21 — Page 6

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MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1980

WARNING ON CONFINED SPACES

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A CONFINED SPACE CAN BE A DEATH TRAP. THIS WARNING IS GIVEN BY A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN IN A PLEA TO BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TO BE MORE SAFETY CONSCIOUS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT EXAMPLES OF CONFINED SPACE IN INDUSTRY ARE TANKS, CHAMBERS, VATS, PITS, WELLS, TUNNELS, PIPES, FLUES, BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS, WITHIN ALL OF WHICH DANGEROUS FUMES MIGHT ACCUMULATE.

FOR THEIR PART, EMPLOYERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT A CONFINED SPACE IS FREE OF DANGEROUS FUMES AND HARMFUL GASES, AND IS NOT OXYGEN DEFICIENT.

THEY SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT THE SPACE IS ADEQUATELY VENTILATED AND THAT SUFFICIENT BREATHING APPARATUS, SUITABLE REVIVING EQUIPMENT, OXYGEN TANKS, SAFETY BELTS AND ROPES ARE PROVIDED.

SUCH EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE AND IN GOOD WORK ING CONDITION, AND WORKERS MUST BE PROPERLY INSTRUCTED IN THEIR USE.

IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT FOR WORKERS TO BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.

THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER A CONFINED SPACE UNLESS THEY ARE AUTHORISED BY THE IR EMPLOYERS.

WHILE ENTERING OR STAYING IN A CONFINED SPACE, THEY MUST WEAR BREATHING APPARATUS UNLESS IT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED THAT THE SPACE IS SAFE AND FREE FROM DANGEROUS FUMES OR IS NOT OXYGEN DEFICIENT.

IF PRACTICABLE, THEY SHOULD WEAR A SAFETY BELT AND BE ATTACHED TO A ROPE SO THAT THEY CAN BE PULLED OUT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATIONS REQUIRE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO OBSERVE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WHEN ENTERING OR WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT MIGHT LEAD TO PROSECUTION AND A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000.

THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SAFETY TRAINING COURSES, INCLUDING COURSES ON CONFINED SPACE SAFETY, FREE OF CHARGE TO WORKERS.

IN ADDITION, FACTORY INSPECTORS ARE READY AT ALL TIMES TO OFFER ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC ON MATTERS CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.