XN000022-1981-08-17 — Page 12

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 1981

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WARNING OF POSSIBLE DANGERS IN CONFINED SPACES

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EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS WORKERS ARE URGED TO BE ALERT TO THE DANGERS THAT MAY EXIST IN CONFINED SPACES - OXYGEN DEFICIENCY OR THE PRESENCE OF DEADLY GASES.

THE PLEA WAS MADE TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, FOLLOWING THE RECENT ACCIDENT IN WHICH FOUR PEOPLE DIED AFTER BEING REPORTEDLY OVERCOME BY UNKNOWN GASES INSIDE A WELL IN SHEUNG SHUI.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT EXAMPLES OF CONFINED SPACES COMMONLY FOUND IN INDUSTRY WERE WELLS, CHAMBERS, TANKS, VATS PITS, TUNNELS, PIPES, FLUES, BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS, IN ALL OF WHICH DANGEROUS FUMES MIGHT BE PRESENT.

FOR THEIR PART

EMPLOYERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT A CONFINED SPACE IS FREE FROM DANGEROUS FUMES, HARMFUL GASES, OR OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE SPACE IS ADEQUATELY VENTILATED.

EMPLOYERS MUST ALSO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BREATHING APPARATUS, SUITABLE REVIVING EQUIPMENT, OXYGEN VESSELS, SAFETY BELTS AND ROPES.

THIS EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE AND IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION, AND WORKERS MUST BE PROPERLY INSTRUCTED IN ITS USE.

IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT FOR WORKERS TO BE MORE SAFETY CONSCIOUS, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.

THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER A CONFINED SPACE UNLESS AUTHORISED TO DO SO BY THEIR EMPLOYERS.

WHILE ENTERING OR REMAINING IN A CONFINED SPACE, THEY MUST WEAR BREATHING APPARATUS UNLESS IT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED THAT THE SPACE IS SAFE AND FREE FROM DANGEROUS FUMES OR OXYGEN DEFICIENCY.

IF PRACTICABLE, THEY SHOULD WEAR A SAFETY BELT AND ROPE SO THAT THEY MAY BE PULLED OUT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATIONS REQUIRE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO OBSERVE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS WHEN ENTERING OR WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS MIGHT LEAD TO PROSECUTION AND A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50 000 FOR EMPLOYERS.

HE SAID THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SAFETY TRAINING COURSES FREE OF CHARGE, INCLUDING CONFINED SPACE SAFETY.

IN ADDITION, THE FACTORY INSPECTORS AT VARIOUS DIVISIONAL OFFICES ARE ALWAYS READY TO OFFER ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC ON MATTERS CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

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