XN000022-1986-11-19 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1986

THE COURTS, HE ADDED, SHOULD TAKE A MORE SERIOUS VIEW OF THOSE WHO HELD INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LAWS IN CONTEMPT.

MR HO NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS HAD SOARED FROM 45 800 IN 1981 TO 50 793 IN 1985 BUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORATE HAD REMAINED STAGNANT AT ABOUT 200 SINCE 1982.

HOWEVER, THE WORKLOAD OF FACTORY INSPECTORATE HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THE SAME PERIOD, HE SAID.

HE THEREFORE URGED GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WITH THE NECESSARY STAFF TO ENABLE THEM TO DO THE IR JOBS PROPERLY.

MR HO SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT A FAIR PROPORTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN CONSTRUCTION SITES, ALTHOUGH THE INDUSTRY DID PLACE GREAT EMPHASIS ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION.

TO SOME EXTENT, HE SAID, THE FAULT LAY WITH EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT USE EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER AND DISOBEYED INSTRUCTIONS IN REGARD TO SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION.

MR HO CALLED ON THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES TO LOOK INTO THIS ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PRINCIPAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY OFFICER COURSES WHICH HAD BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND POSITIVELY SUPPORTED BY CONTRACTORS.

STRONGER PUBLICITY DRIVE REQUIRED

*****

MORE FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, MR HUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE PARSIMONIOUS IN ITS EXPENDITURE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WHICH WAS CONCERNED WITH HUMAN LIVES.

HE FELT THAT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CAMPAIGNS HAD NEVER BEEN GIVEN SUFFICIENT EMPHASIS, JUDGING FROM A CUT IN ITS PUBLICITY BUDGET FROM $1.3 MILLION IN 1983-84 TO $0.75 MILLION IN 1986-87.

/ON THE

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