XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

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BUILDING SITE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS TIGHTENED

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THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS NOW REQUIRE CONTRACTORS TO TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS TO FENCE, GUARD, LIGHT AND DRAIN ALL OPEN-PITS AND TRENCH EXCAVATIONS WHICH COULD POSE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG WANG-FAT, MR BARNES SAID IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THESE REQUIREMENTS INSTRUCTIONS HAD BEEN ISSUED TO ALL STAFF CONCERNED WITH THE CONTROL OF SITES.

THESE INSTRUCTIONS DREW ATTENTION TO THE NECESSARY STEPS TO BE TAKEN TO FENCE EXCAVATIONS ADEQUATELY AND TO PREVENT PONDS FORMING ON SITES.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY ON PRIVATE SITES LAY WITH AUTHORISED PERSONS AND CONTRACTORS. A NOTE HAD BEEN ISSUED TO AUTHORISED PERSONS DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR FENCING OF SITES AND OTHER MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, ENACTED IN 1983, REQUIRED ADEQUATE FENCING OF EXCAVATIONS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE NEW FACTORY AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (SAFETY OFFICER AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS) REGULATIONS, SHORTLY TO COME INTO FORCE, WOULD IMPOSE A NEW REQUIREMENT FOR SAFETY OFFICERS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.

+A FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICER WILL HAVE TO BE EMPLOYED ON ALL CONSTRUCTION SITES HAVING MORE THAN 200 WORKERS, AND ANY SITE WITH MORE THAN 20 WORKERS WILL REQUIRE A SAFETY SUPERVISOR, HE SAID.

THESE OFFICERS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT OPEN PITS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES WERE MADE SAFE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND CONTRACT CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC.

+1 AM SATISFIED THAT THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO REDUCE HAZARDS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES TO A MINIMUM ARE ADEQUATE,+ MR BARNES SAID.

+HOWEVER, IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD SAY THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE ADDITIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS INTRODUCED IN RECENT YEARS TO MINIMISE RISKS, CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE DANGEROUS PLACES, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN.

+THEY SHOULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED AS ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS' AND PARENTS ALSO SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO INSTIL INTO THEIR CHILDREN THE DANGERS OF ENTERING SUCH SITES, HE SAID.

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