XN000022-1981-04-18 — Page 6

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1981

WHERE WORKERS ARE WORKING ON OR FROM A DOUBLE-ROW SCAFFOLD, SCAFFOLD PLATFORMS SHOULD BE PROVIDED.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED BUILDING CONTRACTORS TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE STRUCTURE OF A SCAFFOLD PLATFORM.

THE CODE FURTHER RECOMMENDS THAT A SCAFFOLD PLATFORM SHOULD BE OF SOUND MATERIAL, ADEQUATE STRENGTH AND FREE FROM PATENT DEFECT AND BE AT LEAST 15 ÎN, (400 MM) IN WIDTH AND 1 IN. (25 MM) IN THICKNESS.

IN CASE OF A PLYWOOD PLATFORM, THE PLYWOOD SHOULD BE A SINGLE BOARD OF NOT LESS THAN 15 IN. (400 MM) IN WIDTH AND NOT LESS THAN 3/4 IN. (18 MM) THICK.

IN ADDITION, THE CODE RECOMMENDS THAT A SCAFFOLD PLATFORM SHOULD BE SECURELY PLACED IN POSITION AND, WHERE PRACTICABLE, SHOULD BE SECURELY FENCED ON ALL SIDES (EXCEPT THE INNER SIDE) FROM WHICH A PERSON MAY FALL SIX FEET SIX INCHES OR MORE.

WHERE IT IS NOT PRACTICABLE TO PROVIDE A WORKING PLATFORM AND A PERSON MAY FALL SIX FEET SIX INCHES OR MORE, HE SHOULD WEAR A SAFETY BELT SECURED TO AN ANCHORAGE OR AN INDEPENDENT LIFT LINE.

SAFETY BELTS SHOULD BE READILY ACCESSIBLE FOR USE BY SITE WORKERS AND BUILDING CONTRACTORS SHOULD TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE THE BELTS.

ANTI-TB CAMPAIGN TO BE LAUNCHED NEXT WEEK

***

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN A MASSIVE ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS CAMPAIGN NEXT WEEK IN AN EFFORT TO BRING DOWN THE INCIDENCE OF THIS INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN HONG KONG.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE CAMPAIGN AIMS AT BRINGING HOME THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY MEN OVER 40 OF AGE. COUGHING PERSISTENTLY FOR MORE THAN A MONTH SHOULD GO TO A GOVERNMENT CHEST CLINIC FOR A FREE X-RAY.

+APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AT AN EARLY STAGE OF INFECTION IS MOST ESSENTIAL IN COMBATTING THE DISEASE, HE SAID.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN POSTERS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT PUBLIC PLACES AND RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TELEVISION CLIPS WILL BE BROADCAST REGULARLY.

UNTIL RECENT YEARS, TB HAD BEEN ONE OF THE TOP KILLER DISEASES IN HONG KONG. SINCE 1969, THE INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS HAD BEEN GOING DOWN. THE NOTIFICATION RATE OF 286.5 PER 100 000 POPULATION IN 1969 DROPPED TO 143.8 IN 1978.

IN 1980, IT CLAIMED 551 LIVES, OR TWO PER CENT OF ALL DEATHS. +THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE 1 470 DEATHS FROM TB, OR 7.8 PER CENT, IN 1969, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HOWEVER, THE TREND REVERTED UPWARD IN 1979 TO REACH A RATE OF 161.4, WHICH DROPPED SLIGHTLY LAST YEAR TO 159.

THE INCREASE, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, WAS PARTLY DUE TO THE LARGE INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS.

AU TAS