XN000022-1980-06-03 — Page 7

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1980

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UNGUARDED MACHINE SPELLS TRAGEDY

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AN UNGUARDED MACHINE CAN PRODUCE SOMETHING MORE THAN IT WAS DESIGNED FOR TRAGEDY.

THIS WAS DEMONSTRATED BY A RECENT FACTORY ACCIDENT IN WHICH A WORKER LOST A FOREARM.

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR MR_YIP YUK-LUN, SAID TODAY THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE WORKER'S HAND WAS CAUGHT BY AN UNFENCED HIGH SPEED REVOLVING COUPLING OF A YARN DOUBLING MACHINE.

+HAD THE COUPLING BEEN EFFECTIVELY GUARDED THE TRAGIC HUMAN SUFFERING WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, HE LAMENTED.

MR YIP AGAIN URGED BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY THEY OPERATED.

+UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS 1976, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROPRIETORS OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGŠ TO GUARD EFFECTIVELY ALL DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY.

+THOSE WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE LIABLE TO BE PROSECUTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MAXIMUM FINE IS $5 000 ON CONVICTION.

+FURTHERMORE, EMPLOYERS MAY ALSO HAVE TO PAY COMPENSATION TO THE INJURED WORKERS AND FACE FURTHER CLAIMS IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS,+ HE ADDED.

MR YIP POINTED OUT THAT THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WAS ALWAYS READY TO ADVISE ON GUARDING HAZARDOUS MACHINERY AND THAT COPIES OF A WELL-ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK ON GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE.

+GUARDS WHICH ARE PROPERLY DESIGNED, INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED CAN HELP ELIMINATE MECHANICAL HAZARD, INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OPERATORS, HE STRESSED.

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