XN000022-1987-07-17 — Page 21

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1987

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CALL TO GUARD DANGEROUS PARTS OF WOODWORKING MACHINERY

THE PROPRIETOR OF A FACTORY WAS RECENTLY FINED $10,000 BY A SOUTH KOWLOON MAGISTRATE FOR FAILING TO GUARD A WOODWORKING MACHINERY WITH PROTECTING RIVING KNIFE.

THE CASE SHOWED THAT A CARPENTER WHILE USING A CIRCULAR SAW TO CUT PIECES OF WOOD HAD HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER AMPUTATED AND LEFT THUMB LACERATED.

A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) EXPLAINED THAT MOST ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CIRCULAR SAWS WERE DUE TO THE TIMBER CLOSING-IN ON THE SAW AND BEING FLUNG BACK OR OFF WITH GREAT VIOLENCE. THE RIVING KNIFE IS THE MEANS OF PREVENTING THIS, HE ADDED.

HE SAID THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (WOODWORKING MACHINERY) REGULATIONS ALREADY LAID DOWN STANDARDS OF FENCING FOR MACHINERY AND IMPOSED DEFINITE DUTIES ON THE EMPLOYER TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THOSE OPERATING THEM.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE ADDED, THE LEGAL OBLIGATION ON EMPLOYEES TO USE THE WHICH THE EMPLOYERS PROVIDED.

REGULATIONS ALSO PLACED A GUARDS AND SAFETY DEVICES

ANYONE WHO CONTRAVENES ANY OF THE REGULATIONS IS CONVICTION, TO A FINE OF $30,000.

DURING THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, DEPARTMENT TOOK OUT SOME 300 PROSECUTIONS AGAINST FACTORY FOR FAILING TO GUARD THE DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY,

LIABLE, UPON

THE LABOUR PROPRIETORS

AND

OF THE TOTAL, 276 CASES WERE TAKEN OUT UNDER THE FACTORIES INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATING OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL FINE OF $894,400.

THE REST WERE TAKEN OUT UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (WOODWORKING MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (ABRASIVE WHEELS) REGULATIONS. FINES IMPOSED UNDER THESE TWO REGULATIONS AMOUNTED TO $78,500.

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