XN000022-1986-11-19 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1906

+ THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG DOES NOT IN FACT COMPARE UNFAVOURABLY WITH THAT IN OTHER PLACES. THE RATIO OF INSPECTORS TO WORKERS IS SLIGHTLY BETTER IN HONG KONG THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, SINGAPORE OR THE UK, BOTH OF WHICH TAKE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY,+ HE SAID,

MR BRIDGE ADDED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD PLANS IN HAND TO INCREASE THE TRAINING STAFF OF THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE AND THIS WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRAINING COURSES BEING PROVIDED.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PLANNING TO INSTAL A NEW HOT LINE SPECIFICALLY TO DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS AND TO PROVIDE ADVICE.

THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS NEW SERVICE WOULD BE GIVEN WIDE PUBLICITY AND THIS WOULD EMPHASISE THAT THE COMPLAINANT'S IDENTITY WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

HE SAID HE HOPED THAT THIS HOT LINE AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE SERVICE, WOULD GO SOME WAY TOWARDS MEETING THE HON HUI YIN-FAT'S CONCERN THAT EMPLOYEES MIGHT BE VICTIMISED FOR REPORTING UNSAFE PRACTICES ON THE PART OF THEIR EMPLOYERS.

MR BRIDGE SAID AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING PROVISION OF SAFETY DATA SHEETS BY IMPORTERS OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.

SUCH A MEASURE WOULD USEFULLY COMPLEMENT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSALS, NOW IN PREPARATION, TO REQUIRE THE PROPER LABELLING OF SUCH CHEMICALS IN USE IN THE WORKPLACE AND WOULD ASSIST PROPRIETORS IN COMPLYING WITH THESE REGULATIONS, HE SAID.

MR BRIDGE ALSO SAID THERE MUST BE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO FOSTER AN ATTITUDE OF MIND FAVOURABLE TO SAFE PRACTICE IN THE WORKPLACE,

WHILE ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION BY THE GOVERNMENT WAS FUNDAMENTAL, EMPLOYERS SHOULD PROVIDE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND ADEQUATE TRAINING IN SAFETY MATTERS FOR THEIR WORKERS.

EMPLOYEES HAD A DUTY TO CO-OPERATE WITH EMPLOYERS IN IMPLEMENTING SAFETY MEASURES SUCH AS OBSERVING NO-SMOKING SIGNS AND WEARING PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND NOT REMOVING GUARDS FROM MACHINERY, HE ADDED.

MR BRIDGE AGREED WITH A PROPOSAL THAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO FORM SAFETY COMMITTEES INVOLVING BOTH MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS.

HE SAID THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE TASKS FOR A SPECIAL PROMOTION UNIT WHICH THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WAS PLANNING TO FORM.

MR BRIDGE WELCOMED THE IDEA OF SETTING UP A SAFETY COUNCIL AND HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SOON BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE THE NEXT STEPS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING IT.

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