WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1986
12
ALL SERIOUS INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVESTIGATED
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S FACTORY INSPECTORATE INVESTIGATES EVERY FATAL OR SERIOUS INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT TO TRY TO FIND OUT ITS CAUSE.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RICHARD LAI, MR BRIDGE SAID IN EVERY SUCH INVESTIGATION THE INSPECTORATE ALWAYS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY LACK OF REASONABLE CARE BY THE EMPLOYER.
ON WHETHER VICTIMS OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS WERE ADVISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS REGARDING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS UNDER THE COMMON LAW, HE SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION DIVISION ADVISED ALL INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT VICTIMS THAT THEY HAD A RIGHT TO CLAIM COMMON LAW DAMAGES FROM THEIR EMPLOYER OR ANY ONE ELSE WHO MAY HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT THROUGH NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS.
+ANY EMPLOYEE WISHING TO PURSUE SUCH A CLAIM IS THEN REFERRED TO THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE.
+THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT THEN CONSIDERS, IN THE LIGHT OF INFORMATION FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, THE CLAIMANT AND ANY OTHER WITNESS, WHETHER GROUNDS EXIST FOR COURT ACTION, HE SAID.
IN FATAL CASES, AND CASES OF DISPUTE, COMPENSATION CLAIMS WERE AUTOMATICALLY REFERRED TO THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT AND IN THESE CASES THE QUESTION OF GROUNDS FOR A COMMON LAW ACTION WAS CONSIDERED AT THE SAME TIME.
+WHERE A COMMON LAW ACTION IS PURSUED, STAFF OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT DO OF COURSE APPEAR AS EXPERT WITNESSES AS AND WHEN REQUIRED, HE ADDED.
POLICE GIVEN REMINDER ON USE OF HANDCUFFS *****
THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS WRITTEN TO COMMANDERS OF ALL MAJOR FORMATIONS TO REMIND THE FORCE OF THE POLICE GENERAL. ORDERS ON THE USE OF HANDCUFFS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THIS MOVE FOLLOWED A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A MAN WAS AWARDED DAMAGES FOR BEING WRONGLY HANDCUFFED.
/IN REPLY
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