XN000022-1981-06-24 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981

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INDUSTRIAL SAFETY EFFORTS INCREASED

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING ITS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY EFFORTS IN FOUR MAIN AREAS - EXPANSION OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE, IMPROVEMENT OF SAFETY LEGISLATION, INTENS IF ICATION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING AND PROMOTION WORK, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG PO-YAN.

IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF FACTORY INSPECTORS INCREASED BY ABOUT 80 PER CENT FROM 81 TO 145, AND THE FIELD OFFICES INCREASED FROM 15 TO 28, FIVE OF THEM BEING SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED WITH CONSTRUCTION SAFETY.

THE NUMBER OF FACTORY INSPECTORS IS EXPECTED TO REACH 250 IN 1984.

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE SAFETY REGULATIONS CONCERNING LIFTING APPLIANCES AND FOR CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY, AND PENALTIES SPECIFIED IN THE FIVE MOST IMPORTANT SETS OF REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO $50 000.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO HOPED SOON TO INTRODUCE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FACTORY FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS AND TO MAKE NEW ELECTRICITY SAFETY REGULATIONS.

HOWEVER, THE MAIN THRUST OF RECENT LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN TO INCREASE PENALTIES AND TO IMPROVE SUBSTANTIALLY EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION.

INCREASED PENALTIES, TOGETHER WITH THE HIGHER EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION RATES, AND INCREASING CIVIL LIABILITY AWARDS BY THE COURTS, SHOULD CAUSE RELUCTANT EMPLOYERS TO TAKE MUCH GREATER INTEREST IN, AND CONCERN FOR, A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN THE IR ENTERPRISES, HE ADDED.

ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING, MR HENDERSON SAID THE DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE HAS BEEN EXPANDING

ITS ACTIVITIES IN CONDUCTING TRAINING COURSES, BENEFIT ABOUT 6 000 PARTICIPANTS A YEAR.

THE TRAINING OFFICERS OF THE CENTRE ALSO VISIT AND GIVE TALKS ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES, SCHOOLS, FACTORIES AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS. THE TALKS ARE HEARD BY ABOUT 7 000 PEOPLE A YEAR.

A ONE-YEAR EVENING TRAINING COURSE STARTED IN 1979 IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC PRODUCED ABOUT 100 PROPERLY-TRAINED SAFETY OFFICERS IN TWO YEARS.

PROGRAMMES FOR THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY HAVE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED AND EXTENSIVE, AND COVER A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS EXHIBITIONS, SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, TV PROGRAMMES, PRESS COVERAGE, POSTERS, ADVERTISEMENTS, MOBILE THEATRE SHOWS AND VARIOUS TYPES OF COMPETITIONS.

/IN THE

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