XN000022-1987-06-14 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1987

COMPLIANCE OF FIRE PRECAUTION REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TOOK OUT 88 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST FACTORY PROPRIETORS FOR BREACHING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

IN 85 OF THESE CASES, THE PROPRIETORS WERE FINED A TOTAL $181,200. THE OTHER THREE CASES WERE DISMISSED.

OF

A BREAKDOWN OF THE STATISTICS SHOWED THAT 36 CONVICTED CASES RELATED то FAILURE TO KEEP EXIT DOORS UNLOCKED AND FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCT FIRE RESISTING EXIT DOORS AND CONSTRUCT EXIT DOORS TO OPEN OUTWARDS.

ANOTHER 37 CASES RELATED TO FAILURE ΤΟ COMPLY WITH FIRE PRECAUTION ORDERS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, ENSURE NO SMOKING IN WORKPLACES OR IN THE PROHIBITED PART OF A NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACE AND REMOVE SOURCE OF IGNITION.

OF THE REST, SEVEN CONCERNED FAILURE TO MARK CONTAINERS, STOREROOMS OR CUPBOARDS USED FOR STORING INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES OR STORE INFLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES IN SUITABLE CONTAINERS, AND FIR ON ILLEGAL ALTERATION OR ADDITION TO THE PREMISES OF THE WORKPLACE.

"FIRE PREVENTION IN FACTORIES HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN AREA TO WHICH FACTORY INSPECTORS DIRECT PARTICULAR ATTENTION,

LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

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'THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL IN NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BY FACTORIES.

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A

UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS ALREADY PROVIDE PRECAUTIONARY

"BUT IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND BE AWARE OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND TO OBSERVE GOOD SAFETY ALL TIMES."

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EMPLOYEES ΤΟ PRACTICES AT

IS

UNDER THE REGULATIONS THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR EMPOWERED TO REQUIRE THE PROPRIETOR OF A NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACE то ADOPT SPECIFIC FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH A NOTICE AMOUNT TO AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $30,000.

ENQUIRIES ON MATTERS RELATED TO FIRE PREVENTION IN FACTORIES CAN BE MADE то ANY BRANCH OFFICES OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

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