XN000022-1987-03-13 — Page 3

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1987

THE BILL INCORPORATES SIMILAR PROVISIONS TO THOSE OUTLINED ABOVE, WITH A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT CHANGES.

IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE CONCEPT OF THE PERMIT SYSTEM FOR NIGHT WORK AND WORK ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS WILL BE RETAINED. HOWEVER, THE SCHEME OF CONTROL WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER PRESCRIBED CONSTRUCTION WORK WHICH MAY NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE THE USE OF POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT.

THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT MANY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE POWERED EQUIPMENT ARE AS NOISY AS WORK THAT DOES AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL AT NIGHT AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. THE REGULATIONS PRESCRIBING SUCH WORK WILL BE MADE AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.

IN RESPECT OF NOISE FROM PILING, THE BILL PROPOSES A MORE REALISTIC APPROACH AND RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN PERCUSSIVE AND NON-PERCUSSIVE PILING.

IT IS PROPOSED THAT NON-PERCUSSIVE PILING, SUCH AS HAND-DUG CAISSONS, WILL BE TREATED AS ORDINARY CONSTRUCTION WORK AND CAN THEREFORE TAKE PLACE DURING THE RESTRICTED HOURS WITH A VALID PERMIT. THIS WILL ALSO APPLY TO ANCILLARY WORKS SUCH AS THE POURING OF CONCRETE TO FORM A PILE, DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH PERCUSSIVE PILING OPERATIONS.

IN THE CASE OF PERCUSSIVE PILING, SUCH AS THE DRIVING OR SINKING OF A PILE BY DROP OR DIESEL HAMMER, THE CURRENT PROHIBITION ON SUCH WORK DURING THE RESTRICTED HOURS WILL BE RETAINED.

AN IMPORTANT CHANGE IS THAT PERCUSSIVE PILING WILL IN FUTURE ALSO REQUIRE A PERMIT DURING THE NON-RESTRICTED HOURS. SUCH A PERMIT MAY LIMIT NOISY PERCUSSIVE PILING TO CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY WHERE NOISE SENSITIVE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, AND WHERE QUIETER PILING METHODS ARE NOT PROPOSED.

A FURTHER PROVISION WHICH HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE BILL WILL ENABLE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE TO CONTROL PARTICULAR TYPES OF WORK AS AND WHEN NECESSARY.

AS REGARDS THE PERMIT SYSTEM, THE BILL INTRODUCES THE CONCEPT OF +TECHNICAL MEMORANDA+ WHICH WILL BE ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE ON THE ADVICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WHICH CONTAIN THE TECHNICAL PRINCIPLES TO BE APPLIED IN DETERMINING WHET HER OR NOT A PERMIT SHOULD BE ISSUED AND WHAT CONDITIONS, IF ANY, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PERMIT.

NOISE FROM