XN000022-1981-06-25 — Page 12

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1981

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MORE SAFETY OFFICERS FOR INDUSTRY

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, EXPRESSED THE HOPE TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING COURSE OFFERED BY THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WILL BECOME THE SOLID CORE OF SUPPLY OF SAFETY OFFICERS WHO WILL HELP IMPROVE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IN HONG KONG.+

PRESENTING CERTIFICATES TO 60 GRADUATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE ONE-YEAR EVENING COURSE AT THE POLYTECHNIC, HE NOTED THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF ADEQUATELY-TRAINED PERSONNEL WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ON COMPULSORY EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS

IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES.

IN ANTICIPATION OF MORE DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICERS, THE POLYTECHNIC HAD DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE COURSE AT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF INTAKE FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR, HE ADDED.

MR HENDERSON STRESSED THAT EMPLOYERS COULD CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THE PREVENTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS BY EMPLOYING QUALIFIED SAFETY OFFICERS AND GIVING THEM PROPERLY-DESIGNED DUTIES.

THESE DUTIES, HE EXPLAINED, COULD BE DIVIDED INTO THREE BROAD AREAS.

FIRSTLY, A SAFETY OFFICER SHOULD HIMSELF INSPECT THE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING AT REGULAR INTERVALS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS ANY RISK OF BODILY INJURY TO ANY PERSON, AND IF SO, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

SECONDLY, HE SHOULD INVESTIGATE ANY ACCIDENTS AND DANGEROUS OCCURRENCES IN THE UNDERTAKING AND TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION TO REMOVE THE CAUSES.

THIRDLY, HE SHOULD ORGANISE SAFETY CAMPAIGNS, TRAINING COURSES, COMPETITIONS, CONTESTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES WITHIN HIS ORGANISATION IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN THE INTEREST OF THE EMPLOYEES IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD A SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET TO UNDERTAKE A MORE IMAGINATIVE AND INNOVATIVE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN, CONSISTING OF A NUMBER OF INTERESTING NEW PROGRAMMES.

/THE MOST