XN000022-1982-04-21 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1982

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TAKES A FRONT SEAT

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS LEADING AN ALL-OUT CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

IN DOING SO, IT IS ARMED WITH A SET OF SAFETY REGULATIONS WHICH CARRY FINES THAT HAVE BEEN INCREASED FIVE-FOLD THROUGH RECENT AMENDMENTS.

THE REGULATIONS NOW PROVIDE FOR MAXIMUM PENALTIES OF UP TO $50 000, AND ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A GREATER DETERRENT EFFECT THAN PREVIOUSLY.

MR CHAN SHIU-LAP, CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, SAID THE INCREASE IN FINES WAS PROMPTED PARTLY BY THE FACT THAT MANY BIG MANUFACTURERS APPARENTLY FOUND IT FAR MORE ECONOMICAL TO PAY THE OLD FINES THAN TO MAKE COSTLY ADJUSTMENTS TO CONFORM WITH SAFETY REGULATIONS.

+ BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE INCREASED FINES WILL PROVE TO HAVE AN ADEQUATE DETERRENT EFFECT ON MANUFACTURERS AND BIG CONSTRUCTORS ENGAGED IN MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECTS WITH CLOSE DEADLINES TO MEET, HE SAID.

FACTORY INSPECTORS MAKE THEIR INSPECTION VISITS NORMALLY WITHOUT PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENTS EXCEPT WHEN IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST TO CHECK ON THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT OF A PARTICULAR ESTABLISHMENT.

IN 1981 THEY MADE 59 000 VISITS AND INITIATED 3 800 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST VIOLATORS. OVER 95 PER CENT OF THE CASES RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS WHICH BROUGHT A TOTAL FINE OF $4.78 MILLION UP FROM THE $4.24 MILLION IN 1980.

IN A ROUTINE INSPECTION OF A WORKPLACE, THE INSPECTOR WOULD CHECK ON THE EFFICIENCY OF GUARDS FOR MACHINES. HOUSEKEEPING, CONDITIONS OF TOOLS, LIGHTING AND VENTILATION, PROVISIONS FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, EXIT FACILITIES STORAGE OF DANGEROUS MATERIALS, EXCESSIVE NOISE AND CONDITIONS OF FLOORS, STAIRS AND WALKWAYS,

NORMALLY, THE INSPECTOR ADVISES THE FACTORY MANAGEMENT ON ALL BREACHES OF SAFETY REGULATIONS OBSERVED AND DISCUSSES WITH THEM ABOUT THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED. LEGAL ACTION IS RESORTED TO ONLY IN CASES WHICH ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR WHERE THE MANAGEMENT SHOWS A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE REGULATIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRI AL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.

TO ENABLE BETTER DEPLOYMENT OF MANPOWER RESOURCES, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE HAS INTRODUCED A HAZARD RATING SYSTEM+ WHICH TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE RISK OF THE INDUSTRY, THE SIZE OF THE WORK FORCE AND FACTORY PREMISES AND RECORD OF VIOLATIONS AND ACCIDENTS.

BASED UPON A POINTS SYSTEM, THE GREATER BULK OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS INSPECTED FELL BETWEEN 60-90 POINTS WITH THE HIGHEST RISK ONES RATED UP TO 130 POINTS.

/THE RATING