XN000022-1984-04-17 — Page 9

TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 1984

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REVISED SAFETY OFFICER SCHEME DISCUSSED

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MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD MET TODAY (TUESDAY) TO DISCUSS A REVISED SCHEME FOR THE COMPULSORY EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

THEY ADVISED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SHOULD PROCEED WITH DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE PROPOSALS.

THE BOARD CONSIDERED AGAIN A NUMBER OF MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND GENERALLY REAFFIRMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THESE PROPOSALS.

THESE AMENDMENTS DO NOT INVOLVE ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE LAW BUT ARE ONLY INTENDED TO CLARIFY A NUMBER OF POINTS THAT HAVE CAUSED DISPUTES.

THE MEETING ALSO ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO BUILD INTO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE PROVISIONS TO PREVENT THE MISUSE OF EMPLOYEES' CONTRIBUTION TO STAFF RETIREMENT SCHEMES.

THE BOARD REVIEWED PROGRESS WITH SEVERAL PIECES OF PROPOSED LABOUR LEGISLATION ON WHICH IT HAD PREVIOUSLY GIVEN ADVICE, AND THE WORK DONE BY THE BOARD'S COMMITTEES ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LABOUR STANDARDS.

THE MEETING WAS CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, AND WAS ATTENDED BY SIX EMPLOYEE AND FOUR EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVES.

THE LAB COMPRISES THE COMMISSIONER OR THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AS THE EX-OFFICIO CHAIRMAN AND SIX EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVES AND SIX EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES AS MEMBERS. IT ADVISES THE COMMISSIONER ON SUCH MATTERS, INCLUDING LEGISLATION, AS HE MAY REFER TO IT.

PUBLIC URGED TO USE APPROVED GAS TUBING

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THE GAS ADVISER, MR KENNETH TUNNAH, TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGERS OF USING SUB-STANDARD RUBBER TUBING FOR DOMESTIC GAS APPLIANCES.

+FAULTY TUBING MAY LEAD TO GAS LEAKS AND FIRES WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENTS LIKE THE ONE THAT HAPPENED LAST DECEMBER IN TUEN MUN, WHERE A 27-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WAS KILLED, + HE SAID.

MR TUNNAH POINTED OUT THAT CONTINUOUS TV AND RADIO PUBLICITY HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO THE NEED FOR CAREFUL MAINTENANCE OF LP GAS CYLINDERS AND RUBBER TUBING. NEW POSTERS DEPICTING THE TYPICAL DEFECTS TO BE FOUND IN SUB-STANDARD TUBING ARE CURRENTLY DISPLAYED IN HOUSING ESTATES, DISTRICT OFFICES, GOVERNMENT POSTER SITES AND GAS DEALERS' SHOPS.

/CAS SAFETY