XN000022-1987-05-10 — Page 6

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 1987

5

WORKERS URGED TO HEED SAFETY RULES

*****

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED WORKERS TO OBSERVE SAFETY REGULATIONS IN WORKPLACES AND NOT TO DO, ANYTHING LIKELY TO ENDANGER HIMSELF OR OTHERS.

THIS FOLLOWS A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A GARAGE WORKER WAS FINED $4 000 BY A CENTRAL COURT MAGISTRATE FOR INFLICTING SEVERE BURN INJURIES ON ANOTHER WORKER'S FEET.

THE CASE SHOWED THAT THE INJURED WORKER USED PETROL TO REMOVE SOME LUBRICANT STAINS ON HIS SHOES. THE PETROL SOAKED THROUGH HIS SOCKS WITH EXCESSIVE QUANTITY DRIPPING ON TO THE FLOOR.

THE DEFENDANT, ON SEEING THIS, SCARED HIM BY LIGHTING UP THE PETROL ON THE FLOOR WHICH IMMEDIATELY IGNITED THE SOCKS OF THE INJURED WORKER.

A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS, NO PERSON EMPLOYED IN FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS SHOULD WILFULLY AND WITHOUT ANY REASONABLE CAUSE DO ANYTHING LIKELY TO ENDANGER HIMSELF OR OTHERS.

ANYONE WHO CONTRAVENES ANY OF THE REGULATIONS IS LIABLE, ON CONVICTION, TO A FINE OF $10 000.

THE SPOKESMAN CALLED ON FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO EXERCISE STRICTER SUPERVISION ON THE IR WORKERS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE SAFETY REGULATIONS.

HE ALSO URGED WORKERS NOT TO USE PETROL OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE SOLVENT TO CLEAN PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

OUTSTANDING AWARD FOR HIGHWAYS ENGINEER *****

AN ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH AN OUTSTANDING AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF THE EXCELLECT RESULTS HE ACHIEVED AT A UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES LAST YEAR.

MR WAI CHI-SHING, 32, WAS AWARDED A FELLOWSHIP IN 1985 BY THE INTERNATIONAL ROAD FEDERATION TO STUDY FOR A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN HIGHWAY ENGINEERING AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY, IND JANA.

HE IS THE SECOND HONG KONG ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL TO BE AWARDED THE FEDERATION'S FELLOWSHIP TO FURTHER HIS STUDIES, THE FIRST BEING FORMER SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, 27 YEARS AGO.

/FACING STRONG