XN000022-1983-08-24 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1983

ADVICE ON USE OF NEW MACHINERY

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FACTORY OPERATORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO STUDY CAREFULLY THE DO'S AND DON'TS AND LIMITATIONS LISTED IN THE MANUAL OF INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING A NEW PIECE OF MACHINERY OR EQUIPMENT.

THE ADVICE WAS GIVEN BY MR T.K. CHAN, A SUPERINTENDENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, IN A TALK ON PREVENTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS TO THE LIONESS CLUB OF MT. PHOENIX, YONG KONG.

HE STRESSED THAT INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, WHICH HAD COST INDUSTRY NEARLY $334 MILLION IN COMPENSATION PAYOUT AND COURT FINES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS +HAVE TO BE TACKLED FROM ALL FRONTS IF WE WANT TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULT+.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION ON SAFETY, LEGISLATIVE CONTROL AND FAMILY INFLUENCE WERE HARDLY ENOUGH TO KEEP ACCIDENTS AT BAY, HE SAID.

DUE ATTENTION HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE HIDDEN DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH USING A WRONG PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR A JOB OR IGNORING A MAKER'S WARNING AGAINST CERTAIN PROHIBITED USE.

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT NOT ALL IMPORTED PLANT AND MACHINERY WERE MADE TO CATER FOR LOCAL CONDITIONS AND NEEDS.

MANY OF THEM HAD APPARENTLY NEVER BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED WITH DUE REGARD TO SUCH ALIEN FACTORS AS CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, GENERAL WORKING HABITS AND SPACE PROBLEMS AT THE USERS' END.

+THE DIFFERENT VOLTAGE REQUIREMENTS, THE DIFFERENT COLOURING CODE IN ELECTRICAL WIRINGS, AND THE ABSENCE OF SUITABLE INSTRUCTION MANUALS OR DATA SHEETS IN CHINESE, JUST TO NAME A FEW, ARE EVIDENCE OF SUCH LACK OF CONSIDERATION IN THIS RESPECT, HE SAID.

AS A RESULT +WRONG+ TYPES OF EQUIPMENT WERE FREQUENTLY BROUGHT IN, WITH THE USERS NOT BEING FULLY AWARE OF THEIR OPTIMUM OPERATING CONDITIONS.

AND, WORST OF ALL, THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE EQUIPMENT, LIMITATIONS IN APPLICATION, AND USED THEM IN A +MAKE-DO SITUATION,+

MR CHAN ADDED.

MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE INTERVIEWED IN A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY ON THE BEST WAYS AND MEANS OF REDUCING ACCIDENTS AT WORK PLACED FAMILY ENCOURAGEMENT AFTER TRAINING EDUCATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

+THEREFORE WE SHOULD ALSO MOTIVATE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES TO REMIND AND ENCOURAGE THEIR WORKING MEMBERS TO ADOPT THE SAFE METHOD AT WORK.

+INDEED, A FEW TENDER WORDS WHISPERED INTO ONE'S EAR BEFORE LEAVING HOME FOR WORK, LIKE COME HOME SAFELY, LOVE' OR 'DADDY, DON'T GET HURT, PLEASE+. MIGHT WORK MAGIC AND WOULD SAVE A THOUSAND WARNINGS IN FACTORY OR IN A TRAINING SESSION,+ HE SAID.

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