XN000022-1983-06-13 — Page 8

MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1983

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THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT SUITABLE FENCINGS SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR FLOOR EDGES, FLOOR OPENINGS, LIFT SHAFTS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES WHERE WORKERS MIGHT FALL A DISTANCE OF MORE THAN TWO METRES. WHERE FENCING IS NOT PRACTICABLE, SAFETY BELTS AND SAFETY NETS SHOULD BE USED, HE ADDED.

TO PREVENT WORKERS FROM BEING HIT BY FALLING OBJECTS, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, SAFETY HELMETS SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND PROPER CHUTES SHOULD BE ERECTED FOR THE DISPOSAL OF DEBRIS, FANS AND NETS SHOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED FOR BAMBOO SCAFFOLDINGS TO CATCH FALLING OBJECTS.

+APART FROM ALL THESE MEASURES, IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR EMPLOYERS TO SEEK THE CO-OPERATION OF THEIR WORKERS IN COMPLYING WITH SAFETY RULES AND IN USING SAFETY EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR THEM, HE NOTED.

WAR ON MOSQUITOES IN SHA TIN

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A TWO-PRONGED CAMPAIGN IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN SHA TIN TO RID THE DISTRICT OF MOSQUITOES WHICH WILL RESULT IN A MORE PLEASANT LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR NEW TOWN AND RURAL RESIDENTS.

THE MONTH-LONG CAMPAIGN, ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, COMPRISES SEARCH AND DESTROY RAIDS ON POTENTIAL BREEDING GROUNDS, AND EDUCATION OF RESIDENTS ON ANTI- MOSQUITO MEASURES.

BEING RID OF THIS NUISANCE WOULD ALSO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS AGAINST DISEASES THAT MIGHT BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH MOSQUITOES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

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HE SAID THE MOSQUITO FIGHTERS COMPRISING FIVE PEST CONTROL TEAMS FROM THE SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE - WERE COMBING THE HILLS, AND VISITING CONSTRUCTION AND VACANT BUILDING SITES AND COMMON PARTS OF BUILDINGS TO SEARCH FOR, AND DESTROY BREEDING GROUNDS.

+CLOGGED STREAMS ARE A POTENTIAL DANGER. THAT IS WHY THE PEST CONTROL TEAMS ARE ARMED WITH GRASS CUTTERS AND RAKES APART FROM INSECTICIDE SPRAYERS. MOSQUITOES CANNOT BREED IN FREE FLOWING WATER — THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE TO REMOVE ROCKS AND CUT UNDERGROWTH OBSTRUCTING THE FLOW OF THE STREAMS, HE SAID.

ON EDUCATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID PUBLICITY MATERIAL SUCH AS LEAFLETS AND POSTERS ON PROPER METHODS OF RIDDING THE MOSQUITO THREAT (STAGNANT WATER COLLECTED IN DISCARDED TINS, BOTTLES AND RECEPTACLES), WERE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS.

THEY ARE ALSO ADVISED TO REPORT TO THE SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE IN CASE THEY NEED HELP IN TACKLING THE NUISANCE.