XN000022-1980-09-03 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1980

QUEENSLAND WELFARE MINISTER

SEES TRAINING OF PRISON OFFICERS

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THE MINISTER FOR WELFARE OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, THE HON SAM S. DOUMANY, CURRENTLY ON A VISIT HERE, TODAY TOURED THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR CHAN WA-SHEK, MR DOUMANY WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE PRINCIPAL OF THE INSTITUTE, SUPT PI WING-LEE. HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND FACILITIES. HE ALSO TOURED THE INSTITUTE AND SAW PRISON OFFICERS UNDERGOING TRAINING.

BEFORE THE TOUR, MR DOUMANY HAD TALKS WITH THE ACTING COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR TOM ECOB, ON THE PENAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.

SAFETY HINTS FOR LIFT TECHNICIANS

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LIFT ENGINEERING COMPANIES WERE URGED TODAY TO EMPHASISE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THEIR INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES TO THE IR APPRENTICES AND TECHNICIANS,

THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHO GAVE SAFETY HINTS FOR THE REPAIR OF LIFTS,

HE CALLED ON THE COMPANIES TO ENSURE THAT A LIFT'S LANDING DOOR IS FULLY INTERLOCKED WITH THE SERVICING SWITCH SO THAT IT CANNOT BE OPERATED WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN.

HE STRESSED THAT ONLY EXPERIENCED TECHNICIANS SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO CARRY OUT LIFT REPAIR WORK, ASSISTED BY APPRENTICES OR JUNIOR TECHNICIANS.

+RECENTLY THERE WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A MISTAKE BY AN APPRENTICE WHO DEFEATED A LIFT'S ELECTRICAL INTERLOCKING SYSTEM BY JOINING UP THE WIRING OF THE LANDING DOOR, HE SAID,

THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES OF FOUR FATAL LIFT ACCIDENTS SINCE JUNE LAST YEAR WAS THE NON-USE OF THE SERVICING SWITCHES.

IN ONE ACCIDENT THE TECHNICIAN FAILED TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE LIFT'S SAFETY GEAR BEFORE REPLACING THE WIRE ROPES.

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