XN000022-1983-02-02 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983

CONTROL OF VEHICLE SMOKE EMISSION ADEQUATE: SCOTT

***

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THAT THE LEVEL OF CONTROL BY THE POLICE OVER THE EMISSION OF EXCESSIVE SMOKE BY VEHICLES WAS ADEQUATE

IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR OTHER ENFORCEMENT COMMITMENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALLAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON ANDREW SO.

MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT SINCE 1979, INCREASES IN POLICE MANPOWER AND THE AVAILABILITY OF VEHICLES HAD ENABLED TWO TEAMS INSTEAD OF ONE, TO BE ASSIGNED TO TESTING EXCESS SMOKE IN VEHICLE EXHAUST FUMES IN EACH OF THE THREE POLICE REGIONS. EIGHT SMOKEMETER S WERE NOW IN USE BY THE POLICE.

HE SAID PROSECUTIONS FOR EMISSION OF EXCESS SMOKE SINCE 1979 WERE AS FOLLOWS:

1979

8 661 CASES

1980

15 535 CASES

1981

13 547 CASES

1982 - 12 351 CASES

EMISSION OF EXCESS SMOKE COULD BE DEALT WITH EITHER BY FIXED $100 PENALTY, OR BY WAY OF SUMMONS.

A SUMMONS CARRIED A MAXIMUM FINE OF $500, ALTHOUGH THE AVERAGE FINE WAS $200, HE SAID.

SAFETY MEASURES ON CONSTRUCTION SITES ***

SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN OR BEING TAKEN ON GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ADEQUATE WHILE THOSE APPLYING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR CANNOT AS YET BE SAID TO BE AS GOOD, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN,

MR MCDONALD SAID THAT SINCE JUNE LAST YEAR SITE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN STEPPED UP, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF FENCING, GUARDING, LIGHTING AND THE DRAINING OF ALL OPEN-PIT AND TRENCH EXCAVATIONS WHICH WERE LIKELY TO POSE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, AND TO CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR,

+WHERE PRACTICABLE, BARRIERS AND HOARDINGS HAVE BEEN PLACED AROUND SITES OR PARTS OF SITES READILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WARNING NOTICES ERECTED AT APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS, HE SAID.

MOREOVER, A REQUIREMENT FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE SITE SAFETY OFFICERS HAD BEEN INCORPORATED IN AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CONTRACTS AND HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS FOR WHICH TENDERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN CALLED, HE ADDED.

/+IN ADDITION,