TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1980
+FURTHER, REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS HAS IMPROVED MARKEDLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO THAT ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE 'APPARENT' INCREASE IS DUE TO THIS FACTOR, AT LAST WE ARE SATISFIED THAT AT LEAST THE FULL PICTURE IS BEING REVEALED. ALTHOUGH, OF COURSE THE BULK OF ACCIDENTS REPORTED ARE QUITE MINOR.
+THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASING TREND ARE NOT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY.
+FOR AN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PROGRAMME TO SUCCEED THE JOINT EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL.
+I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO SHOW MORE INTEREST IN THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS.
+HOWEVER, SHOWING INTEREST ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH- IT MUST BE BACKED UP BY POSITIVE STEPS TOWARDS THE COMMON GOAL.
+EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOP PROPER SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND INSTRUCT THEIR EMPLOYEES IN SAFE PRACTICES. WORKERS MUST ABIDE BY SAFETY RULES AND USE THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR THEM,+ HE SAID,
REFERRING TO THE PROPOSAL REGARDING SAFETY OFFICERS, MR HENDERSON SAID THAT EMPLOYERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE MORE HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES, WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO EMPLOY SAFETY OFFICERS AS PART OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS REGARDING ACCIDENT PREVENTION.
THE DUTIES OF A SAFETY OFFICER WOULD BRING HIM INTO CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOTH THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND THE EMPLOYEES IN THE UNDERTAKING, AND HE WOULD NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION TO CARRY OUT HIS DUTIES PROPERLY.
+TO BE FULLY EFFECTIVE THE SAFETY OFFICER SHOULD BE A QUALIFIED FULL-TIME MEMBER OF THE STAFF. THIS WILL HELP DEVELOP A SENSE OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THE JOB AND ENHANCE THE SAFETY OFFICER'S AUTHORITY AND INFLUENCE, SAID MR HENDERSON,
LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS WAS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, JAPAN AND SINGAPORE, HE ADDED.
TO PRODUCE MORE QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICERS, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR A ONE-YEAR PART-TIME EVENING TRAINING COURSE FOR JUNIOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL IN THE INDUSTRY.
BY THIS SUMMER, THE FIRST BATCH OF ABOUT 30 SAFETY OFFICERS WOULD COMPLETE THE COURSE,
MR HENDERSON FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS WAS RATHER SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL OFFICERS.
/+NOT LONG
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