WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986
46
RE INFORCED SAFETY LEGISLATION SET FOR NEXT SESSION
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NEW LEGISLATION TO REINFORCE THE EXISTING SAFETY LEGISLATION BY THE ENACTMENT OF THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS (SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY_SUPERVISORS) REGULATIONS 1986, WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLY IN THE NEXT SESSION FOR APPROVAL.
THE REGULATIONS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE CONTRACTORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO EMPLOY SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS, SHOULD RESULT IN IMPROVED SAFETY PLANNING AND A SAFER SYSTEM OF WORK ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NE IL HENDERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IT WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE ACCIDENTS OF THIS KIND, HE ADDED.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN, MR HENDERSON SAID THERE WAS ALREADY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO LAY DOWN SAFETY STANDARDS FOR WORKERS EMPLOYED IN CAISSON WORK.
+THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATION REQUIRE A CONTRACTOR EITHER TO ENSURE THAT A CAISSON IS FREE OF DANGEROUS.FUMES OR, WHERE THIS IS NOT DONE OR CANNOT BE DONE, NOT TO PERMIT A WORKER TO ENTER THE CAISSON WITHOUT ADEQUATE BREATHING APPARATUS, HE SAID.
+THE WORKER MUST ALSO BE ROPED TO ENABLE HIM TO BE
PULLED TO SAFETY, IF NECESSARY, AND REVIVAL APPARATUS MUST BE ON HAND.+
MR HENDERSON SAID LEGISLATION WAS OF COURSE NOT ADEQUATE BY ITSELF TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS UNLESS ITS PURPOSE WAS UNDERSTOOD AND ITS PROVISIONS WERE ENFORCED.
+ THE GOVERNMENT HAS THEREFORE PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON CONSTRUCTION SAFETY IN ITS ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES AND IN ITS PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES,+
HE SAID IN MARCH THIS YEAR, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT A SPECIAL INSPECTION PROGRAMME OF 35 CONSTRUCTION SITES WITH POOR RECORDS OF SAFETY IN ADDITION TO ITS NORMAL INSPECTION PROGRAMMES.
BREACHES OF VARIOUS REGULATIONS WERE FOUND AND 32 PROSECUTIONS HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT AGAINST CONTRACTORS CONCERNED.
/+IN MAY ..****
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