XN000022-1980-11-20 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1980

BAN ON USE OF UNSAFE MACHINE

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THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED A COURT ORDER PROHIBITING THE USE OF A HAZARDOUS MACHINE INVOLVED IN AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT IN WHICH A WORKER LOST A FOREARM.

+THE ONLY WAY THAT THE OWNER CAN USE THE MACHINE AGAIN IS TO INSTALL GUARDS TO ALL ITS DANGEROUS PARTS,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A SAI CHO WAN FACTORY WHEN THE WORKER'S HAND WAS CAUGHT BY AN UNGUARDED REVOLVING SPIRAL WORM OF A PLASTIC EXTRUDING/GRANULATING MACHINE.

+HAD THE REVOLVING SPIRAL WORM BEEN EFFECTIVELY GUARDED THE TRAGIC HUMAN SUFFERING WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, HE STATED.

AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR AN INTERIM ORDER UNDER SECTION 11(2) OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE CAP. 59 TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF THE PLASTIC EXTRUDING MACHINE UNTIL ITS DANGEROUS PARTS HAD BEEN EFFECTIVELY GUARDED.

+THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR BREACH OF SECTION II OF THE ORDINANCE IS $50 000 AND SIX-MONTH IMPRISONMENT, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR COURT ORDERS TO DEAL WITH STUEBORN FACTORY OPERATORS WHO CHOSE TO IGNORE SAFETY REGULATIONS.

MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN AGAIN URGED BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY THEY OPERATE.

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

+THOSE WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE LIABLE TO BE PROSECUTED BY THE DEPARTMENT,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WAS ALWAYS READY TO ADVISE ON GUARDING HAZARDOUS MACHINERY AND THAT COPES OF A WELL-ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK ON GUARDING AND PERATION OF ACH NERY WERE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE.

AHICH ARE PROPERLY DESIGNED, INSTALLED AND MAI TA EL CAN HELP ELIMINATE MECHANICAL HAZARDS, PRODUCT!,Y AND ENSURE THE SAFE OF OPERATORS,

INCREASE HE TRESSID.

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